Prevalence and related factors of postpartum depression among reproductive aged women in Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

In this study authors aimed to identify the prevalence and related factors of postpartum depression in Ahvaz, Iran. A total of 505 women enrolled in this study from six public health centers in Ahvaz city, Republic of Iran. This study started in February and completed in September 2014. Data was gathered using a socio-demographic and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Persian version. Authors screened women from 14 days to 6 months postpartum. Mothers with a score of >12 were classified as a postpartum depression (PPD). Our results revealed that 196 individuals (38.8%) had PPD. Women with PPD had significantly more of the following characteristics: undesired pregnancy, neonatal hospitalization, congenital abnormalities, history of postpartum depression, history of lifetime episode of depression, stressful events during pregnancy and an experience of domestic violence during pregnancy (p < 0.05). Our results showed that congenital abnormalities (OR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.44-5.90), history of PPD (OR = 2.61, 95% CI:1.53–4.44), a lifetime episode of depression (OR = 3.26, 95% CI: 1.63-6.49) and having stressful events in the last year (OR = 4.1, CI: 2.19–7.80) were significantly contributed to the PPD. PPD is a common health problem among mothers and screening should be performed after childbearing to identify mothers at the risk.