(P18-002-23) Breastfeeding Is Associated With Reduction in Postpartum Depression Among Mothers in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Objectives: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental health disorder that mothers experience after giving birth. PPD is a severe, long-lasting form of depression that causes sadness and despair. In the United Arab Emirates, estimates suggest that the prevalence of PPD is between 10-22%; however, data on factors associated with reduced PPD risk is limited. Moreover, breastfeeding behavior has been associated with reduced PPD risk. We aim to assess the prevalence of breastfeeding and PPD and to identify factors associated with reduced PPD risk among mothers in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Methods: Study design: cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design.

Data Collection: data was collected through a web-based survey that included Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and The International Physical Activity Questionnaire- Short. The survey was distributed electronically via WhatsApp, and utilized random and snowball sampling. Inclusion criteria: ability to complete the survey in English or Arabic; mothers aged 18 or older, whose last child is ≤3 years old; living in Abu Dhabi.

Statistical analysis: chi-square tests and ordinal logistic regression model were used for data analysis in SPSS software. Variables included in the regression model were mother’s age, education level, employment status, number of children, physical activity, self-reported general health, delivery type, and breastfeeding duration. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: In total 403 subjects consented to participate; 204 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis (age 31.2± 7.3 (mean± SD)). Among the study participants, 34.8% suffered from moderate to severe (M/S) PPD, and 66.2% breastfed their last child for >3 months. Only 27.4% of mothers who practiced breastfeeding for >3 months suffered from M/S PPD compared to 49.2% of mothers who never breastfed or breastfed for ≤ 3 months (chi-square p-value= 0.001). These data were corroborated by results of the ordinal logistic regression model where both self-reported general health (p-value=0.007), and breastfeeding (p-value=0.009) remained significantly associated with reduced PPD.

Conclusions: Breastfeeding is significantly associated with a reduction in M/S PPD among mothers in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Funding Sources: N/A.