Abstract

Postnatal depression is one of the most common non-obstetric illnesses that cause significant morbidity in pregnant women. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of postnatal depression in postnatal moms in a tertiary care centre using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire, as well as the risk variables that contribute to postpartum depression. Methods: It is a 400-person sample size prospective observational research. Postnatal moms were assessed using the EPDS questionnaire when they were admitted to the hospital at one week and again at four weeks. Women with an EPDS score of 13 or higher were determined to have Postpartum Depression. At one week and four weeks, age, socioeconomic status, educational status, work status, family type, menstrual history, premenstrual syndrome, obstetric score, mode of birth, pregnancy planning, and connection with parents, in laws, and partner were compared. Results: The primary goal of the study was to determine the prevalence of PPD at week one (30%) and week four (15%). Menstrual history, mode of delivery, relationship with in-laws, and lack of partner support were identified as risk variables contributing to PPD in our study, and were proven to be statistically significant. In our study, factors like age of the mother, socioeconomic status, education status, employment status, type of family, obstetric score, gender of the infant, mode of delivery, planning for delivery, planning admission of baby and premenstrual syndrome did not have any association with postpartum depression. Conclusion: In our study prevalence of an EPDS score ≥13 (which is suggestive of PPD) was found in a significant proportion of women. Birth by Caesarean section, menstruation history, bad connection, and lack of partner support were identified to be risk factors contributing to PPD in our study conducted in a tertiary care hospital at one week and four weeks.

Description