Abstract:
Background: Depression is a leading cause of global disability and the second leading cause of global disease
burden among people 15–44 years of age. Depression is also the most common mental health disorder affecting
women of childbearing age. Depression in pregnancy has adverse health outcomes for mothers and children. The
magnitude and risk factors of maternal depression among confirmed pregnant in comparison to unconfirmed pregnant
women is not known in developing countries, especially in Ethiopia.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among confirmed
pregnant women attending antenatal clinic and unconfirmed pregnant women who are visitors of inpatients at Jimma
University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia, 2018. Methods: An institutional based comparative cross-sectional
study was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center among 119 confirmed pregnant and 119 unconfirmed
pregnant women selected by consecutive sampling technique from June 1- 30, 2018. The data was collected by a face
to face interview using Beck Depression Inventory Scale, Oslo Social Support-3 Scale and Alcohol Smoking and
Substance Involvement Screening Test. The data was checked, coded and entered by using Epi data version 3.1 and
exported to SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis
were done. AOR with 95% CI was calculated to determine independent variables associated with Depression. Statistical
significance was set at p < 0.05 in the final multiple logistic regression model. Result: The prevalence of depression was
30.3% among confirmed pregnant women and 15.1% among unconfirmed pregnant women. After controlling all
confounging variables in confirmed pregnant women, family history of mental
illness(AOR=5.175,95%CI=1.647,16.263), unwanted pregnancy (AOR=3.173, 95%CI=1.102,9.132), marital
conflict (AOR=4.149, 95%CI=1.432,12.022), intimate partner violence (AOR=3.528, 95%CI=1.093,11391) and poor
social support (AOR=4.636, 95%CI=1.499,14.337) had significant association with depression while in unconfirmed
pregnant women marital conflict(AOR=4.360, 95%CI=1.003,18.955), family history of mental illness (AOR=5.315,
95%CI=1.069,26.425) and having moderate risk for khat use(AOR=4.746, 95%CI=1,086,20.744) had significant
association with depression.
Conclusion and recommendation: This study provides evidence that confirmed pregnant women suffer
significantly more depressed than unconfirmed pregnant women. Thus, screening activities of depression in antenatal
care services should be emphasized with more concern to confirmed pregnant women who have family history of
mental illness, marital conflict, unwanted pregnancy, intimate partner violence and poor social support and
unconfirmed pregnant women who have family history of mental illness and marital conflict and moderate risk of khat
use were the most important associated factors for depression
