Objective
To examine depressive symptomatology in women after childbirth in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Design A cross sectional survey.
Setting Hung Vuong Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital and the Maternal, Child Health and Family
Planning Center of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Method
Participants were recruited consecutively in the postnatal wards and invited to take part in the study at
the first clinic visit. Individual structured interviews about health and social circumstances, including the
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were administered during clinic visits. The interview
schedule was translated into Vietnamese, back translated for verification and piloted. Interviewers were
specifically trained members of staff of the two centres.
Main outcome measures
EPDS scores and responses to structured questions about specific and non-specific
symptoms.
Results
Of 506 women who participated, 166 (33%) had EPDS scores in the clinical range of > 12 and 99
(19%) acknowledged suicidal ideation. In a forward stepwise logistic regression analysis, 77% of cases with
EPDS scores > 12 were correctly classified in a model which included unwelcome pregnancy, lack of a
permanent job, < 30 days complete rest after childbirth, an unsettled baby, not being given special foods,
avoiding proscribed foods and being unable to confide in their husbands.
Conclusion
Depressive symptomatology is more prevalent among parturient women in Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam than reported rates in developed countries and is at present unrecognised