Gender preference and perinatal depression in Turkey: A cohort study
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Date
2017
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Abstract
Background
Child gender preference is important in some cultures and has been found to modify risk for
antenatal and postnatal depression. We investigated discrepancies in the child gender preference between participating women and other key family members and the extent to which
these predicted perinatal depression.
Methods
In a large cohort study of perinatal depression in urban and rural Turkey, participants had
been asked about child gender preferences: their own, and those of their husband, parents,
and parents in-law. Of 730 participants recruited in their third trimester (94.6% participation),
578 (79.2%) were reassessed at a mean (SD) 4.1 (3.3) months after childbirth, and 488
(66.8%) were reassessed at 13.7 (2.9) months.
Results
No associations were found between any gender preference reported in the antenatal
period and depression at any examination. On the other hand, we found associations of
antenatal depression with differences in participant-reported gender preference and that
reported for their mother-in-law (OR 1.81, 1.08–3.04). This non-agreement also predicted
depression at the 4 month (OR 2.24, 1.24–4.03) and 14 month (OR 2.07, 1.05–4.04) postnatal examinations. These associations with postnatal depression persisted after adjustment for a range of covariates (ORs 3.19 (1.54–6.59) and 3.30 (1.49–7.33) respectively).
Conclusions
Reported disagreement in child gender preferences between a woman and her mother-inlaw was a predictor of post-natal depression and may reflect wider family disharmony as an
underlying factor.