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Table 2 Baseline characteristics of participants by study group

From: Innovative psycho-educational program to prevent common postpartum mental disorders in primiparous women: a before and after controlled study

     

95% CI for

the difference

  

Control

(n = 210)

Intervention

(n = 189)

p

Lower

Upper

Sociodemographic characteristics

Age

Mean (s.d.)

30.2 (5.31)

31.62 (4.79)

0.004

-2.47

-0.47

Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander

n (%)

2 (1)

1 (0.5)

0.625

  

English spoken at home

n (%)

198 (94.3)

186 (98.4)

0.03

  

Married

n (%)

148 (70.5)

135 (71.4)

0.834

  

Completed post-secondary education

n (%)

135 (64.3)

157 (83.1)

<.001

  

Employment ASCO classification *:

      

   1 and 2

n (%)

78 (37.3)

111 (59.0)

<. 001

  

   3 and 4

n (%)

35 (16.7)

31 (16.5)

   

   5 and 6

n (%)

73 (34.8)

34 (18.1)

   

   7, 8 and 9

n (%)

24 (11.5)

12 (6.4)

   

Health and reproductive history

Self-rated health good or excellent

n (%)

184 (87.7)

177 (93.6)

0.321

  

Psychiatric history

(panic episodes only)

n (%)

58 (27.6)

42 (22.2)

0.401

  

Psychiatric history

(other disorders)

n (%)

16 (7.6)

25 (13.2)

0.065

  

More than one previous pregnancy

n (%)

40 (19.1)

53 (28)

0.036

  

Unexpected pregnancy

n (%)

56 (26.8)

29 (15.3)

0.005

  

Conceived by ART+

n (%)

18 (8.6)

17 (9)

0.893

  

Caesarean birth

n (%)

69 (32.9)

59 (31.2)

0.726

  

Psychological factors

Confident on leaving hospital

n (%)

123 (58.9)

91 (50.0)

0.079

  

Can confide in partner

n (%)

185 (88.5)

163 (89.6)

0.742

  

Feels supported by partner

n (%)

200 (96.2)

173 (95.1)

0.596

  

Vulnerable personality style (VPS vulnerability subscale score)

Mean (s.d.)

12.75 (4.16)

12.7 (3.96)

0.904

-0.75

0.85

Current mood (EPDS)

Mean (s.d.)

5.81 (4.01)

6 (3.75)

0.646

-0.96

0.59

Partner relationship (IBM Care subscale score)

Mean (s.d.)

33.34 (3.76)

32.76 (4.12)

0.149

-0.21

1.36

Partner relationship (IBM Control subscale score)

Mean (s.d.)

4.58 (4.26)

4.76 (4.75)

0.694

-1.08

0.72

Infants

Twins

n (%)

3 (1.4)

1 (0.5)

0.368

  

Female

n (%)

109 (52.7)

92 (48.9)

0.46

  

Birth weight (g)

Mean (s.d.)

3503.6 (437.5)

3406.9 (510.4)

0.054

-1.76

195.30

Gestation at birth (weeks)

Mean (s.d.)

39.86 (1.45)

39.62 (1.56)

0.116

-0.06

0.54

Infant age at interview (weeks)

Mean (sd)

4.3 (2.5)

3.9 (2.2)

0.19

-0.17

0.81

Rating of baby's health Good or Excellent

n (%)

201 (96.2)

174 (95.6)

0.401

  

Currently breastfeeding

n (%)

163 (78)

160 (87.9)

0.01

  

Had breastfeeding problems

n (%)

50 (23.8)

46 (24.3)

0.902

  

Length of time baby cried or fussed in previous 24 hours (hours)

Mean (s.d.)

2.86 (2.04)

3.52 (2.04)

0.005

-1.11

-0.2

  1. * ASCO Australian Standard Classification of Employment classification [60]
  2. 1 and 2: Managers, Administrators, Professionals
  3. 3 and 4: Associate Professionals, Tradespersons, Associated Workers
  4. 5 and 6: Advanced/Intermediate Clerical, Sales, Service Workers
  5. 7, 8 and 9: Intermediate Production and Transport Workers, Elementary Clerical, Sales and Service Workers, Labourers & Related Workers, students & unemployed
  6. + ART assisted reproductive technology