Prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers attending immunization clinic in a primary health centre: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background:  Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the common psychopathologies that can have devastating effects on the mother, child, and family. Studies of PPD in primary care settings are sparse. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of PPD among mothers attending immunization clinics in a primary healthcare setting and to assess the association between PPD and various clinical and socio-demographic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 223 postnatal mothers aged 18-40 years was conducted at the Immunization Clinic of an Integrated Family Health Center in Kerala. Sociodemographic and clinical data was collected using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The presence of PPD was assessed by using the Malayalam version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Rating Scale (EPDS). The association of PPD with various socio-demographic and clinical variables was evaluated. Analysis was done using SPSS version 24. Variables associated with PPD at the univariate level were further included in a multivariate regression analysis to identify the risk factors for PPD. Results: The prevalence of PPD was found to be 13.9%. The younger age of the mother, poor social support, nuclear type of family, delivery by Cesarean section (CS), and early postpartum duration had a strong association with and were independent predictors of PPD. The sex of the baby had no association with PPD. Conclusion: PPD was found in a significant number of mothers. Considering the high prevalence in community settings, PPD should be viewed as a disorder of public health significance, and routine screening of PPD is needed for early intervention.