Postpartum depression and affecting factors in primary care

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and affecting factors of postpartum depression (PPD) in Edirne city center. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 111 pregnant women in their third trimester in Family Health Centers in Edirne, Turkey.

The participants filled out a questionnaire on sociodemographic factors developed by the researchers along with the Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care (BDI-PC) before childbirth. Women with a probability of depression, determined with the BDI-PC, were excluded, and the remaining 100 participants were applied the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS) in the first and second months after childbirth.

The frequency of PPD was 14% (n = 14) in the first month and 17% (n = 17) in the second month of delivery. Thus, 24 different mothers out of 100 were determined to have PPD in the first two months after childbirth. The probability of PPD, measured with EPDS, was significantly higher among younger mothers, mothers with unemployed husbands, mothers with lower income, mothers with a health problem of the child, and mothers who do not breastfeed. There was no significant relationship between PPD and mother's education status, marriage age, the age of first labor, PPD after previous childbirth, psychiatric disorders in first-degree relatives, higher number of children, method of delivery, and unwanted pregnancies.

PPD is an important community problem. Thus, it is useful to monitor the risky mothers in primary care and screen them with the practical EPDS in order to prevent the negative effects on the baby and the mother.