Frequency and Determinants of Postpartum Depression among Mothers Living in Karachi

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of Postpartum Depression (PPD) among mothers living in Karachi and to find out the determinants of predispose mothers to Postpartum Depression. Study Design and Setting: The study was cross sectional analytical and was carried by online survey of mothers living in Karachi Methodology: Total duration was six months from 1st January, 2020 to 31st July, 2020. The calculated sample size of study was 369. The study was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi. Random sampling technique was used to recruit subjects. 294 participants were part of the research. Mothers with previous history of depression and those who had given birth to healthy babies were included in the study. Mothers who have had miscarriage or pre-mature babies were excluded. Questionnaires in both English and Urdu languages were used for the research. PPD was assessed by the help of Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale (EPDS). The score of greater than 12 was considered to be indicative of PPD. Results: A total of 294 mothers were enrolled in the study, 187 mothers had an EPDS score >12 giving prevalence of PPD as 63.6%. This study showed that mothers with PPD were more likely not to breastfeed their child (p=0.01), had lack of family support (p=0.00) and had previous history of depression as well (p=0.00). Conclusion: The present study concluded that frequency of postpartum depression was 63.6%. Lack of breastfeeding, previous history of depression and lack of family support were among the determinants that predispose mothers to postpartum depression.