Abstract
Background: Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth; it can occur at any time during the first year after delivery. Mothers experience depressive symptoms that may make it difficult for them to complete daily care activities. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of postpartum depression among Sudanese women as well as determining the association between postpartum depression (PPD), socio-demographic, and obstetric characteristics.
 Method: In this cross-sectional study, 129 women selected through convenient sampling technique were interviewed; the participants were recruited from the postnatal and child welfare clinics at the Saad Abueleella and the Dream International Hospitals. To assess any possible depression, information was collected at six weeks postpartum using a structured questionnaire in addition to a screening tool.
 Results: At a cutoff score of ≥12, the prevalence of PPD was found to be 10.9% (Confidence Interval 6.5–17.3%); while 79.1% of mothers revealed no signs of PPD and scored <9 points, 10.1% scored 9–11, indicating a need for extra visits. Interestingly, 59.7% of the respondents were aged between 25 and 35 years, 76% were university graduates, 64.3% housewives, 20.9% had obstetric complications, 3.1% reported a history of PPD, and almost 97.7% breastfed their babies. Moreover, PPD was found to be associated with occupational status (p = 0.01) and a previous history of PPD (p = 0.01).
 Conclusion: The prevalence of postpartum depression was 10.9% among the studied sample. Interventions to address its risk factors should be implemented, physicians and health personnel should be qualified on screening and referring depressed mothers for further clinical assessment. 
 Keywords: Postpartum depression, Prevalence, Screening, Sudanese
Highlights
The prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in the study area based on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores was found to be 10.9%, this indicates that PPD is a common problem in developing countries like Sudan and that EPDS can be used as a screening tool
There is a notable resemblance in the prevalence of PPD based on the EPDS across different societies, the fact that EPDS is highly dependent on the timing makes the comparison of the studies more difficult
Our study has shown no significant association between PPD and maternal age, many previous studies in Sudan have reported PPD to be associated with maternal age, that is, younger mothers, aged “
Summary
Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth; it can occur at any time during the first year after delivery. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of postpartum depression among Sudanese women as well as determining the association between postpartum depression (PPD), socio-demographic, and obstetric characteristics. Postpartum depression (PPD) includes feeling of sadness, exhaustion, fear, and mood instability. It usually occurs within four weeks after delivery, it has been reported to occur in the month prior to delivery, which is known as ”depression with peripartum onset” [4]. The possible risk factors for PPD may include: a past history of anxiety and depression “vulnerability,” poor social support, adverse life events, unplanned pregnancy, low income, and immediate hormonal changes following the birth [5]. Several studies have demonstrated a decreased prevalence of breastfeeding among depressed mothers compared to non-depressed ones [6]
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