Background: Postpartum depression is a pregnancy related psychiatric condition that affects women of child bearing age and manifests in the first 6 months after giving birth persisting up to 12 months. Symptoms include sleep disturbance, low energy, lack of interest in daily activities as well thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby. However, there are no diagnostic tools or criteria hence the condition is usually underdiagnosed. This condition affects the mother, child and family as a whole. Associated risk factors include low socio-economic status, poor family and social support, unwanted pregnancy etc.
Aim: to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression and associated risk factors among women attending postnatal services at Ndolas New Masala and Lubuto clinics.
Study design: Cross sectional study
Study setting: postnatal clinic
Study population: 80 consenting women with 6 weeks old infants attending postnatal services at Ndolas New Masala and Lubuto clinics.
Method: The study participants were recruited from the women that came for the 6 weeks post-natal review and child immunization using simple random sampling. Eligible candidates were approached and required to consent voluntarily. The data was collected using an investigator administered structured questionnaire and depression screening was done using the Edingburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Inclusion was done until the sample size of 80 was attained. The analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software which generated the relevant statistical frequencies and tables.
Results: All the 80 participants (recruited mothers) were analysed. 45% had EPDS scores >8 which indicated depression. 27.5%had a mild form of depression, 12.5% moderate and 5% scored in the severe depression range, an EPDS score of >13.Significant association were found with the following factors, mothers response to knowledge of pregnancy (p=0.033), type of feeding of the baby (p=0.026) and family involvement in child care (p=0.034). No significant association was observed with age of mother (p=0.184), marital status (p=0.960), level of education (p=0.146), fathers support (p=0.604), parity (p=0.266) and presence of chronic condition (p=0.917). No significant association was found with the mode of delivery (p=0.604) contrary to popular belief.
Conclusion: The prevalence of postpartum depression six weeks after delivery of 45% appears to be very high and necessitates routine screening of all postnatal mothers. Family involvement in child care, mothers response to knowledge of pregnancy and type of baby feeding are statistically significant associates of postpartum depression.
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