Publication:

Postpartum depression: a prospective observational cross-sectional study

Background To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression in the puerperium and offer referrals to counsellor/mental health practitioner for at risk patients

Methods Sample size was 214 patients and duration of study was 1 year, it included all deliveries at HN reliance foundation hospital. It excluded women with pre-existing mental health problems or neurological disease on medications and those who declined participation. On day 7 and day 42 post-delivery the women were phoned and asked questions from the Edinburg postnatal depression scale which is a validated questionnaire. Interpretation used was; EPDS ≥13 or saying yes to question no 10, with depression and EPDS <13 without depression. Those identified with depression were appropriately referred.

Results Patient identified to be depressed were more likely to have perceived complications during delivery (p=0.02), problems with lactation (p=0.035), hospital stay of more than four days (p=0.002). There was no statistical association with help available and place where the mother stayed post-discharge.

Conclusions Out of 213 study participants, 32 study participants (15.02 percent) had post-partum depression. This was prevalent among those that felt their delivery was complicated, those with lactation difficulties and those with hospital stay of more than 4 days. The prevalence of post-partum depression at our hospital was significantly high to institute routine use of EPDS for new mothers.