(174) Factors Associated with a Positive Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale among Ghanaian Patients

To identify factors associated with a positive Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS) among Ghanaian patients.


Study Design:

We performed a prospective cohort study of obstetric patients who were admitted at an urban, teaching hospital in Ghana between November to December 2023. Patients below the age of 18 or critically ill were excluded. Demographic and medical history were collected, and the TPDS was administered. We performed descriptive and inferential statistics including cross tabs with chi-square analysis and logistic regression models.


Results:

Out of the 440 patients eligible for participation, 420 patients enrolled in our study. A total of 166 (40%) patients were admitted antepartum, and 254 (60%) patients were admitted postpartum. Overall, 157 (37%) patients screened positive for pregnancy distress; 60 (36%) antepartum patients, and 97 (38%) postpartum patients screened positive for pregnancy distress.

For those in the antepartum period, the factors associated with a positive screen included low income (p=0.042), younger age (p < 0.001), and lower parity (p-0.049) while those with more education and older age were less likely to have a positive TPDS.

For those in the postpartum period, less education (p=0.048), cohabitation compared to other relationships (p=0.01), having an emergency compared to elective cesarean delivery (p=0.036), and having at least one antepartum admission (p=0.025) were associated with having a positive TPDS.


Conclusion:

Our study is the first to identify risk factors contributing to Ghanaian patients’ pregnancy distress, which can contribute to depression with peripartum onset. We believe utilizing these risk factors among Ghanaian pregnant patients for increased screening and monitoring can improve the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders, which is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3.4.