Frequency and associated factors for postnatal depression

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Postnatal depression (PND) is a significant concern affecting maternal and infant well-being.
• Early identification and intervention are crucial for reducing morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of postnatal depression in an outpatient sample.
• To identify associated sociodemographic, obstetric, and medical factors contributing to PND.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• 154 women in the puerperal period were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Urdu version).
• Depression severity was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

Main Results:

• 33.1% of women (51 out of 154) suffered from postnatal depression.
• The majority of affected women had moderate to severe depression.
• Depressed mothers were typically young (mean age ~25), had low education, and belonged to lower socioeconomic strata, with smaller families and recent marriages.

Conclusions:

• Postnatal depression is prevalent in nearly one-third of the studied population, with a high proportion experiencing moderate to severe symptoms.
• Young mothers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are at higher risk.
• Urgent attention and early detection strategies are needed to mitigate the adverse consequences of PND for mothers and newborns.