Relationship between women's perceived obstetricviolence at birth and postpartum depression levels

Aim: To examine the relationship between obstetric violence perceived by women during childbirth and postpartum depression levels. Materials and methods: It is a descriptive research. The research was conducted face-to-face with 360 women registered at Barefoot ASM and Portakal ASM in Mersin province between October 15, 2024 and March 15, 2025 and who applied to have their heel blood taken (3rd-5th days after childbirth). Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Obstetric Violence Scale, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. In the analysis of the obtained data; Kurtosis and Skewness coefficients, percentages, frequencies, means and standard deviations, t-test, variance analysis (LSD in cases where variances are homogeneous as advanced analysis, Dunnet C in cases where they are not), Pearson Correlation Analysis, Spearman Correlation Analysis and regression analysis were performed to determine normal distributions. The significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Findings: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the total score of the Obstetric Violence Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score (r: 0.153, p: 0.004). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the Abuse and Violence subscale of the Obstetric Violence Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score (r: 0.151, p: 0.004). The difference in the total mean score of the Obstetric Violence Scale according to the education status, income status, number of births and intervention at birth status of the women participating in the study was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference in the total mean score of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale according to the age, income status, number of births, intervention at birth status, and whet her or not they received prenatal care and prenatal social support of the women participating in the study was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). A 1-unit increase in the Obstetric Violence score was found to cause a 0.266-unit increase in the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression score. Conclusion: As women's perceived level of obstetric violence at birth increases, their postpartum depression levels increase. The educational status, income, parity, and birth interventions of the participating women influence the level of Obstetric Violence. The participating women's age, income, parity, birth interventions, prenatal care, and prenatal social support also influence postpartum depression levels. Obstetric violence is a risk factor for postpartum depression.