Abstract
The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of depression and anxiety in mothers of children hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit, and to determine the characteristics associated with depression and anxiety in a sample of Mexican mothers.
We studied 188 mothers who had premature babies in a neonatal intensive-care. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected through a face to face interview performed by professional staff. We assessed depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and clinical anxiety using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A).
Clinical anxiety was reported in more than one-third of women (34.0%, n = 64) followed by depression (19.7%, n = 37), while twenty-six women reported both significant depression and anxiety (13.8%). Women with both clinical symptoms were younger, they were more frequently students and were living within extended families. Women who presented only symptoms of depression reported lower educational level (elementary school 29.7%, n = 11).
Our results show a high incidence of anxiety, depression, and both emotional disorders in Mexican mothers of premature babies hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit. Demographic features such as occupation or age may impact the occurrence and severity of joint symptoms of depression and anxiety which should be monitored by the health team and referred to a mental health service.
•It is necessary to know the prevalence of depression and anxiety in mothers of premature babies hospitalized in NICU.•We evaluated factors associated with depression and anxiety in mothers of premature babies in NICU.•Younger age, being a student and living with an extended family are risk factors for depression and anxiety in these women•This is the first study of this type performed in the Mexican population.