Depressive symptoms and associated factors in caregivers of newborn infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION: A high prevalence of depressive symptoms has been reported in family members of newborn infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units. This causes a high negative impact on the newborn infant-family bond.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their associated factors in caregivers of newborn infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit in Colombia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, analytical study conducted at a tertiary care health facility specialized in cardiovascular disease. The Beck Depression Inventory-II was administered upon admission to the NICU and on Day 8. Depressive symptoms were considered present if caregivers had intermittent, moderate, severe, or extreme depression. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done using binomial regression models.

RESULTS: A total of 107 children and their caregivers were studied. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 20.56% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.77-28.34) at baseline and 12.86% (95% CI: 4.1-20.89) on Day 8. Male caregivers and caregivers older than 30 years old had a lower risk of having depressive symptoms whereas being the head of the household, having completed primary education or no education at all, and having a baby with an Apgar score at birth of 1-6 were risk factors for developing depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was high. Being the head of the household, having a low level of education, and an Apgar score at birth of 1-6 were associated with depressive symptoms among caregivers.