The effect of marriage adjustment on postpartum depression in the postpartum

This study was conducted to determine the effect of women's marital adjust-ment on postpartum depression (PPD) in the postpartum period and the factors affec-ting it. The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 197 women with 0-12 month old babies who applied to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Gynecology Outpatient Clinic between September 1, 2020 and July 1, 2021. In the study, data were collected with the Socio-Demographic Information Form, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale (EPDS) and Marital Adjustment Scale (MAS). Statistical analyzes of the data were made in the IBM-SPSS V24 package prog-ram. In statistical analysis, non-parametric methods were used for the measurement values that were not in accordance with the normal distribution. In non-parametric met-hods, the "Mann-Whitney U" test was used to compare the measurement values of two independent groups, and the "Kruskal-Wallis H" test method was used to compare the measurement values of three or more independent groups. Bonferroni correction was applied for pairwise comparisons of variables with significant difference for three or more groups. "Spearman" correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between measurement values that did not have normal distribution and the statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. It was determined that the women participating in the study had a total median score of MAS 44 [14-58], and a total median score of EPDS of 11[1-27]. When the cut-off point of EPDS was accepted as 13, the prevalence of depression was found to be 36%. In the study, a statistically significant difference was found between the total median score of and age group, postpartum employment status, education and income status, duration of marriage, type of marriage, planned pregnancy and baby's age (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the total median EPDS score and the women's income level, duration of marriage, planned pregnancy, presence of a previous history of depression and breastfeeding status of their baby (p<0.05). A negative, weak, statistically significant relationship was found between marital adjustment and PPD (r=-0.443; p<0.001). As a result, it was determined that women showed significant PPD symptoms and marital adjustment was effective on PPD. While early detection of PPD risk levels of women in the postpartum period, counseling and training are provided; It is recom-mended to increase the awareness level of women and their spouses about including spouses in the process and increasing marital adjustment.