Prevalence and Determinants of Antenatal Depression and its Association with Adverse Childhood Experiences: a cross-sectional study at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Kuala Lumpur
Description
This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the prevalence and determinants of antenatal depression among pregnant women at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) in Kuala Lumpur. It explores the association between antenatal depression and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), seeking to understand how early-life trauma may influence mental health during pregnancy. By assessing both the frequency of depression and the types of ACEs experienced, the study aims to contribute valuable insights into the factors that affect maternal well-being and the importance of early screening for both antenatal depression and ACEs.
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To gather the data for this study, a cross-sectional design was used, focusing on pregnant women attending Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) in Kuala Lumpur. Participants were selected through convenience sampling from November 2024 to 31 December 2024. The inclusion criteria for this study stipulated that participants must be Malaysian pregnant women aged 18 years or older, able to provide informed consent independently, and proficient in reading and understanding either English or Malay. Exclusion criteria were applied to women who were unable to participate in the study due to severe physical or cognitive impairments, active labor, reduced consciousness, or if they were in the patient admission center, labor room, or operating theaters during the study period. Data collection was carried out using structured interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Antenatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a widely recognized screening tool for depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were measured using a standardized questionnaire (ACE-IQ), which includes questions about various forms of early-life trauma, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and household dysfunction. The data collected were entered into IBM SPSS version 23 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the prevalence of antenatal depression and ACEs, while inferential statistics such as chi-square tests and logistic regression were performed to investigate the association between ACEs and antenatal depression. Data cleaning procedures included checking for missing values and outliers, and appropriate transformations were applied where necessary. Ethical approval was obtained from the UKM Research and Ethics Committee, and written informed consent was provided by all participants before data collection. This study adhered to ethical guidelines, ensuring confidentiality and the voluntary nature of participation.