PREVALANCE AND PREDISPOSING FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Mothers after childbirth undergo various hormonal, emotional, physical and psychological changes. PPD (postpartum depression) can be mild to severe depending on the predisposing factors. A Cross sectional community study was conducted in Soldevanahalli village Bengaluru Rural for a period of 6 months. 254 mothers were screened using a self-designed questionnaire and 85 subjects were categorized as having suspected postpartum depression based on Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS). Descriptive analysis was done on socio-demographic variables, obstetric, neonatal, postnatal and psychosocial factors. Correlation was carried to analyse the factors associated with PPD. Overall prevalence of PPD was 33.5% among the subject population. Lower educational qualification and decreased family monthly income was found to be statistically significant with PPD.In this study certain factors were only considered which was selected based on the subject population, however there can be other factors that may be a cause in development of PPD.Although certain factors have minimal impact on postpartum depression, using a proven diagnostic approach can help reduce the incidence of PPD and its social repercussions.Identification of other such predisposing factors in a larger population and creating awareness about them in postpartummothers is an essential aspectin healthcare.