Publication:

Comparison of Edinburgh postnatal depression scale scores between high-risk pregnancy and normal pregnancy

Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant perinatal mental health disorder with a reported prevalence of 8-20% globally. Obstetricians serve as the frontline clinicians best positioned to screen for PPD. However, universal screening remains inconsistently implemented in routine clinical practice. This study aimed to compare Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) scores between women with high-risk pregnancies and those with normal pregnancies, and to identify specific high-risk subgroups that may warrant targeted screening.

Methods A prospective analytical study was conducted between January 2020 and July 2021 in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru. One hundred postpartum women were enrolled. The validated EPDS questionnaire was administered 72 hours post-delivery in a private setting. An EPDS score of ≥9 was used as the positive screening threshold. Statistical analysis employed unpaired t-tests and chi-square tests as appropriate.

Results Of 100 women screened, 51 (51%) had an EPDS score of ≥9. Four variables were statistically significantly associated with a positive screen: employment status (47.1% employed vs. 18.4% housewife with EPDS≥9; p=0.002), lower gestational age (mean 37.37±3.50 weeks versus 38.46±1.38 weeks; p=0.043), neonatal NICU admission (27.5% versus 4.1%; p=0.001), and delayed breastfeeding initiation (33.3% versus 12.2%; p=0.012). Age, religion, educational status, duration of marriage, parity, mode of delivery, presence of comorbidities, neonatal gender, and birth weight did not demonstrate statistically significant associations.

Conclusions Employed women, women who delivered preterm, mothers whose neonates required NICU admission, and those with delayed breastfeeding initiation demonstrated significantly higher EPDS scores. These groups should be prioritised for postpartum depression screening in clinical practice.