Prevalence of Postpartum depression among Mothers attending Maternal and Child health clinic of Tertiary level hospital

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that affect women after delivery to one year. Screening and identifying mother for depression helps reducing mental health morbidities. The objective of study was to find out the prevalence of postpartum depression using Edinburg postpartum depression scale.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 185 mothers with child from 6 weeks 14 weeks who came for immunization of their child in MCH clinic of Rapti Academy of health science after taking ethical approval from Institutional review committee of RAHS. through face-to-face interview using validated Nepali version of Edinburg depression scale.

Results: The mean age±std. of mothers and children were dev:26.84±4.77 years and 8.92± 3.268 weeks respectively and the prevalence of postpartum depression was 7% in this study. Psychosocial factors, particularly subjective feelings of stress, exposure to stressful life events within the past year, and perceived family support, were found to be significantly associated with postpartum depression at 95% confidence level.

Conclusion: The prevalence of postpartum depression is low. There is a need of regular screening of postpartum depression and creating awareness regarding postpartum depression sign and symptoms among mothers during the time of discharge from hospital.