Obstetric risk factors contributing to postpartum depression in the Northern Region of Ghana

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a specific mental disorder that has a negative impact on the well-being of the mother and baby. Although several studies have explored the prevalence of PPD, they are dominated largely from Western and other Middle-East and Asian countries. The literature on the prevalence of PPD and the obstetric and demographic factors that contribute to this disorder is limited in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Ghana. Thus, the present study examined the prevalence rate of PPD in the Northern Region of Ghana and the obstetric and demographic factors contributing to the disorder. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Three hundred and twenty-one (321) postpartum mothers participated in the study by completing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and other questionnaires on sociodemographic and obstetric variables. Binary and multiple logistic regression were used for the analysis. The results showed a prevalence rate of 10.9% for PPD. Family history of mental health disorder, experience of stress within the past year, chronic physical health conditions, planned pregnancy, complications during pregnancy, childbirth complications, traumatic birth experience, and history of miscarriages were positively associated with PPD. The regression results showed that, the experience of stress within the past year (AOR = 8.54 [95%CI (3.277,22.277)], p < 0.001), planned pregnancy (AOR = 0.19 [95%CI (0.076,0.477)], p < 0.001) and complications during pregnancy predicted PPD outcomes. (AOR = 2.814 [95%CI (1.120,7.072)], p = 0.028). These findings have implications for the early identification and management of PPD.