Factors associated with postpartum depression among Myanmar women in Yangon: A cross-sectional study

Postpartum depression (PPD) is non-psychotic depressive illness after childbirth, and PPD affects the health and social status of mothers and their children. This study aims to identify the prevalence of suspected PPD and associated factors among women in Yangon, Myanmar.

This is a cross-sectional study of 552 women at 6-8 weeks postpartum who visited at North Okkalapa General and Teaching Hospital for postnatal care from September to October 2022. Socio-demographic factors, obstetric and infant factors, family support, and medical history were collected using a structured questionnaire. Myanmar version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used for screening PPD, and all women were divided into suspected PPD (EPDS ≥10) and non-suspected PPD (EPDS <10). Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the characteristics of women between suspected PPD and non-suspected PPD. Logistic regression analysis was preformed to identify the factors associated with suspected PPD.

The mean age of the 552 women was 27.9 years and 176 women (31.9 %) were categorized into suspected PPD. Factors associated with suspected PPD were living in a nuclear family (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.04, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.10-3.77), feeling insufficient income (AOR = 2.15, 95 % CI 1.09-4.25), unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 2.76, 95 % CI 1.47-5.16), less than eight ANC visits (AOR = 3.29, 95 % CI 1.74-6.23), low birth weight of the last baby (AOR = 5.69, 95 % CI 1.17-27.71), insufficient support from partners (AOR = 11.28, 95 % CI 5.62-22.63), parents (AOR = 3.83, 95 % CI 2.08-7.04), and parents-in-law (AOR = 2.00, 95 % CI 1.06-3.76), and depressive symptoms during the last pregnancy (AOR = 3.08, 95 % CI 1.52-6.26).

The prevalence of suspected PPD was 31.9 % among 6-8-week postpartum women in Yangon. Strengthening maternal health programs and providing education about postpartum psychiatric problems is essential to improve maternal psychological well-being.