Estado de salud mental en madres de recién nacidos ingresados en el servicio de neonatología

Abstract

Introduction: alterations in mental health during the postpartum period have high morbidity in mothers of hospitalized newborns, constituting an important public health problem. Objective: To evaluate the state of mental health in mothers of newborns admitted to the Neonatology Service. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional research was carried out, with a census sample of 50 mothers of newborns hospitalized at the Neonatology Service of Hospital General Docente Ambato; the Edinburgh postpartum depression questionnaire, the Goldberg scale to identify anxiety, and the Beck hopelessness scale to identify the negative expectations that a person has about their future and well-being, were applied. Results: In newborns´ mothers’ sociodemographic data predominated: 26-30 years, single, secondary academic level, housewives, primiparous; in the state of mental health: 66% of mothers suffer anxiety, 50% have no risk of postpartum depression, while 36% indicate suspicion of postpartum depression and 54% show a low risk of hopelessness. Conclusion: mothers' mental health status is affected in the postpartum period because of their child’s hospitalization, with the onset of mental disorders such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.