Randomised controlled trial of midwife led debriefing to reduce maternal depression after operative childbirth.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of a midwife led debriefing session during the postpartum hospital stay in reducing the prevalence of maternal depression at six months postpartum among women giving birth by caesarean section, forceps, or vacuum extraction.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Large maternity teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Participants

1041 women who had given birth by caesarean section (n= 624) or with the use of forceps (n= 353) or vacuum extraction (n= 64).

Main outcome measures

Maternal depression (score >/=13 on the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale) and overall health status (comparison of mean scores on SF-36 subscales) measured by postal questionnaire at six months postpartum.

Results

917 (88%) o

SUBMITTER: Small R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC27510 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature