KUMJ | VOL. 20 | NO. 2 | ISSUE 78 | APRIL - JUNE 2022
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Postpartum Depression among Mothers Visiting Immunization Clinic at Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet, Nepal
Adhikari N, Shrestha B, Chand B, Basel P
Abstract: Background
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a disabling but treatable mental disorder that
represents one of the most common complications of childbearing which can exert a
wide range of effect on social, physical and mental health conditions of the mother
and baby.
Objective
To identify the prevalence and factors associated with postpartum depression among
mothers visiting immunization clinic at Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet in year
2020.
Method
This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 347 postpartum mothers were
interviewed for data collection. Validated Nepali version of Edinburg Postnatal
Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to identify postpartum depression. These
mothers were permanent resident of Birendranagar who had delivered their babies
in municipal hospital. Analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0. Chi square test
was applied to identify association of postpartum depression with major interest of
variables namely parity of mother, sex of a baby and recent planned or unplanned
pregnancy. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated with 95% Confidence Interval (CI).
Result
The prevalence of postpartum depression was found to be 32.9% (27.9%, 37.8%).
Several factors which were significantly associated with postpartum depression were;
sex of the baby, history of abortion and recent pregnancy planned or unplanned.
Conclusion
Nearly one-third of postpartum mothers had depression. Hence screening of mothers
for depression is of prime importance throughout the continuum of care. Likewise,
the factors identified for postpartum depression needs to be taken care of well in
advance for healthy mother and a baby.
Keyword : Mothers, Postpartum depression, Prevalence
