Published Paper Details:

ABSTRACT: The mental health of women is an important, but often neglected aspect of reproductive health. The present study is a pilot project to identify the association between antepartum depressive symptoms (APDS) and tokophobia among women attending Antenatal OPD at Institute of Maternal and child health, Kozhikode. Fifty antenatal women were screened for APDS using Edinburgh Depression Screening Scale (EPDS) and also assessed for tokophobia using Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ). Fifty percent of women were screened positive for APDS and 36% of women tend to have tokophobia. APDS was significantly associated with tokophobia (?2 =5.558,p=0.018) along with social support and history of illness in present pregnancy(p<0.05). There is a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in pregnancy and need routine screening to identify APDS. Antepartum childbirth preparation sessions would be useful to reduce fear and increase the acceptance of pregnancy and delivery.