Factor structure and internal consistency of Oriya version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

"Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale" (EPDS) is a widely used screening instrument for assessing peripartal depression. To utilize it for Oriya-speaking population, we translated the scale and studied its internal consistency and factor structure.

Consenting Oriya-speaking pregnant women attending antenatal checkup during second or third trimester were administered the translated EPDS. Internal consistency analysis (Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlation) and exploratory factor analysis (principal component analysis) with varimax rotation were carried out to identify factor structure.

The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the scale was found to be 0.81, whereas principal component analysis revealed a three-factor solution that accounted for 87.61% of the total variance. The factors included "cognitive depression," "somatic depression," and "anxiety factor," with a percentage of variance being 41.18%, 28.09%, and 18.33%, respectively.

The translated Oriya EPDS is a reliable scale with adequate internal consistency and three-dimensional factor structures.