Published Online : 2022-04-30
Postpartum depression is the most common postpartum complication affecting 10-15% of women, contributing greatly to maternal mortality and morbidity, but treatment is very poor in women who suffer from it. The aim is to study the prevalence of postpartum depression in women of recent birth in a rural population and the pattern of health care use for the condition in women. This is a cross-sectional study based on the population in a rural population served by a primary health center. All women in the study area who had a pregnancy outcome in the past 6 months and completed 30 days since their last childbirth were included in the study. Data on postpartum depression were collected using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS).There were 50 postpartum women in the study area who participated in the study. The average age of the study participants was 24.5 years. The prevalence of depression in the women in the study (an EPDS score of 10 and above) was 11%. Among women with depression, a history of depression before the last childbirth was reported by 42.5% of women. Only 7.5% of the women had sought some form of health care for their problem. The study shows that the prevalence of depression in postpartum women is quite high and that the health pursuit for depression is verylow. Professional nurses should be trained to educate, detect and treat depression early in postpartum women.
Original Article
English
P. 9-12
