JHSM
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine (JHSM) is an unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open access international medical journal. The Journal publishes interesting clinical and experimental research conducted in all fields of medicine, interesting case reports, and clinical images, invited reviews, editorials, letters, comments, and related knowledge.

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Original Article
The effect of intrapartum labor induction with oxytocin on maternal depression scoring in early postpartum period: a retrospective cohort study
Abstract
Aims: Studies showing that synthetic oxytocin (SO) used for induction during labor increases the risk of postpartum maternal depression are increasing day by day in literature. Objective was to investigate the effect of SO administered for induction during labor on the tendency to maternal depression in early postpartum period.
Methods: The study encompassed nulliparous women, all of whom delivered at gestational weeks 37 to 41 between 2020 and 2022 and underwent standard postpartum assessments on the 10th day following delivery. Exclusion criteria comprised pregnant individuals with predisposing factors for depression before conception, during gestation, or in the postpartum period. Pregnants who were admitted to delivery room due to labor and gave birth without any induction method were classified as group C (n=137), and who were induced with SO were classified as group O (n=122). Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores on 0th day and 10th day postpartum of two groups were compared. Additionally, relationship between duration of induction and EPDS scores was analyzed.
Results: No statistically significant difference was detected between two groups in terms of age, gestational week, or educational status (p>0.05). No statistically significant difference was detected between the groups in EPDS scores on 0th or 10th day postpartum (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between induction time and EPDS scores on 0th or 10th day postpartum (p>0.05).
Conclusion: SO used for labor induction may not primary affect the tendency to postpartum depression in the early period. Further studies in populations without risk factors for depression are needed.

Keywords : Delivery, EPDS, labor induction, postpartum depression, synthetic oxytocin

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Article available in :
Volume 8, Issue 1, 2025
Page : 29-33
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1576625
Article Information
Received : 31 Eki 2024
Accepted : 18 Kas 2024
Published : 12 Oca 2025
Corresponding Author :

Mustafa Can Sivas: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, İstanbul, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Sivas MC, Ohanoğlu Çetinel K, Ayhan İİ. The effect of intrapartum labor induction with oxytocin on maternal depression scoring in early postpartum period: a retrospective cohort study. J Health Sci Med. 2025;8(1):29-33.

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