Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):236-242 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8003

Postpartum depression in Ukrainian refugee women who gave birth abroad after beginning of large-scale war

Olena Kostiuk^{1, 5}, Yelyzaveta Shunko¹, Roma Jusiene², Rima Breidokiene², Violeta Drejeriene³, Sigita Lesinkiene⁴, Arunas Valiulis^{5, 6}

¹ Department of Neonatology, Shupyk National Healthcare University, Kyiv, Ukraine

² Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

³ Clinic of Children's Diseases, Vilnius City Clinical Hospital, Vilnius, Lithuania

⁴ Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

⁵ Clinic of Children's Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

⁶ Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Medical Faculty, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

Objectives: The Russian military aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 became the cause of the biggest humanitarian crisis. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of mood disorder of pregnant and postpartum women. It was earlier reported that depression of pregnant women is increased in a combat zone, while effects of war on pregnant refugee and displaced women are less studied. The aim of the study was to determine the features of emotional state of temporarily displaced Ukrainian women who gave birth in Lithuania in spring-autumn 2022, and compare it with the state of Lithuanian women who were not directly affected by war.

Methods: The study was conducted by surveying a group of Ukrainian refugee women (UG) and a group of Lithuanian women (LG) who gave birth in maternity units of Lithuania, using Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), the questionnaire elaborated for evaluation of social and medical peculiarities of mother-child pair in early postpartum period as well as medical records of maternity unit.

Results: The average mean scores of EPDS in UG were significantly higher compared to LG; 42% of UG exceeded the threshold for the high risk of PPD (> 13). UG, who arrived in Lithuania during the war because of close relatives legally working in Lithuania, had lower EPDS scores to compare to UG who came from combat zones and who did not have close relatives.

Conclusions: Support of closest relatives and convenient surrounding is important for women's emotional state during the vulnerable period of maternity and especially during the crisis time.

Keywords: Edinburg Postpartum Depression Scale, pregnancy, refugees, Ukraine, war

Received: August 3, 2023; Revised: November 10, 2024; Accepted: November 10, 2024; Published: December 30, 2024  Show citation