Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease and have posed a global health threat. The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of International concern. To date, there are limited studies that have investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among female population. Aim: This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) and its related factors among women in RGGW&CH, Puducherry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed from June 2021, using direct interview among 70 mothers at 6–12 weeks postpartum. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a self structured questionnaire regarding associated factors was administered to all participants. Result: In this study, the proportion of patients with and without post-partum depression was found to be 13(18.6)% and 57(81.4)% respectively.The demographic and obstetric variables such as religion, mode of delivery, and complication during delivery of pregnancy were statistically significant at the p value of p<0.035, p<0.003, p<0.001 respectively. The chi-square test reveals that factors such as family problems during covid, history of depression before pregnancy, husband consume alcohol, stressful feeling, adequate family support are significantly associated with level of depression, p<0.008, p<0.002, p< 0.006, p< 0.009, p< 0.027. Conclusion: According to findings, there was a high prevalence of postpartum depression among postnatal mother during the COVID-19 period. Additionally, strategies have to be developed by health care authorities to design recommendations and actions to prevent occurrence of post-partum depression during the pandemic.

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