A STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTH INDIA.

Abstract

Background: Depression is the most common complication postpartum affecting 10%–15% of women, contributing greatly to maternal mortality and morbidity, but the care availed is very low among the women who suffer. Aim and Objectives: The current study aimed to study the prevalence and associated risk factors of postpartum depression among recently delivered women in a tertiary care hospital of North India. Material and Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study done between May 2019 and January 2020. All women in the study area who had a pregnancy outcome during the past 6 months and have completed 42 days since their last delivery were included in the study. The data on postpartum depression were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results: There were 300 postpartum women in the study area who participated in the study. Mean age of the study participants was 24.5 years. The deliveries were Institutional in 98% of women. The prevalence of depression among the study women (an EPDS score of 10 and above) was 10%. Among women with depression, a history of depression before the last delivery was given by 40% of women. Only 7.5% of women had sought some form of health care for their problem. Conclusion: The study shows that the prevalence of depression among postpartum women is quite high and the health seeking for depression is very low. Health professionals and workers have to be trained to raise awareness, detect, and treat depression among postpartum women promptly