Public Health Nurs. 2021 Sep 12. doi: 10.1111/phn.12969. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Examine the relationship between breastfeeding practices (breastfeeding status and breastfeeding length) and postpartum depression (PPD) risk, after controlling for significant risk factors for PPD.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlational study design was used. Data was used from a national dataset using a subsample of women (n = 29,682) residing in 26 states in the United States that answered the 2016 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) questionnaire. A secondary analysis was conducted using descriptive and bivariate analyses, and a multiple logistic regression model.
RESULTS: Women currently breastfeeding (AOR = 0.87 CI: 0.79-0.95, p = .001), and women who breastfed for longer periods of time (p = < .002) had a statistically significantly lower PPD risk compared to their counterparts, even after accounting for significant covariates.
CONCLUSIONS: Study findings suggest breastfeeding as a cost efficient and healthy behavior that can decrease a woman’s risk for PPD. Nurses should educate and promote the maternal mental health benefits of breastfeeding in addition to the health benefits for the infant.
PMID:34510526 | DOI:10.1111/phn.12969
