Projects per year
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish whether changes in the socioeconomic context were associated with changes in population-level antenatal mental health indicators in Vietnam. METHODS: Social, economic and public policies introduced in Vietnam (1986-2010) were mapped. Secondary analyses of data from two cross-sectional community-based studies conducted in 2006 (n = 134) and 2010 (n = 419), involving women who were ≥ 28 weeks pregnant were completed. Data for these two studies had been collected in structured individual face-to-face interviews, and included indicators of antenatal mental health (mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Vietnam-validation (EPDS-V) score), intimate partner relationships (Intimate Bonds Measure Vietnam-validation) and sociodemographic characteristics. Socioeconomic characteristics and mean EPDS-V scores in the two study years were compared and mediation analyses were used to establish whether indicators of social and economic development mediated differences in EPDS-V scores. RESULTS: Major policy initiatives for poverty reduction, hunger eradication and making domestic violence a crime were implemented between 2006 and 2010. Characteristics and circumstances of pregnant women in Ha Nam improved significantly. Mean EPDS-V score was lower in 2010, indicating better population-level antenatal mental health. Household wealth and intimate partner controlling behaviours mediated the difference in EPDS-V scores between 2006 and 2010. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the socioeconomic and political context, particularly through policies to improve household wealth and reduce domestic violence, appear to influence women's lives and population-level antenatal mental health. Cross-sectoral policies that reduce social risk factors may be a powerful mechanism to improve antenatal mental health at a population level.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1001 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | BMC Public Health |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 26 Jun 2020 |
Keywords
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Economic development
- Mental health
- Pregnancy
- Social change
- Socioeconomic factors
- Vietnam
- Women’s health
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Maternal mental health and anaemia as determinants of infant health and development in resource constrained settings
Fisher, J. R. W. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Fisher, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Australian Research Council (ARC)
1/01/09 → 31/12/11
Project: Research