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PREVALENCE OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN FEMALES OF TWIN CITY

Ammara Hayat Khan, Saba Karamat, Feroza Nawaz, Zainab Ijaz, Moha Akram Khan, Dr Tamjeed Ghaffar*

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ABSTRACT

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a kind of depressive disorder appears in female in postnatal period within 3 to 4 months after child birth, it also brings devastated effects on the child development and physical health.

Objectives: To determine prevalence of postpartum depression among the females of twin cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad) and the risk factors associated with it. And the other objective was to determine the difference of physical activity among postpartum females with or without depression and the difference of social activity among postpartum females with or without depression.

Materials and Methods: It was an observational analytical cross-sectional survey in which non- probability purposive sampling was used. This study was conducted at out-patient Department (OPD) of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, of twin city hospitals. Study has been done and completed within 6 months. A sample of 730 postnatal females’ lies within 0 to 3 postnatal months was included. A well-structured questionnaire was designed to collect data directly from the postpartum females. Data was analyzed by the application of descriptive statistics through SPSS-22.

Results: Findings of the study showed that 39.5% females were suffering from PPD, Edinburgh score was 10.75±5.39. Early mother child separation (2.499), twin child birth (3.414), Any worry about baby sex (2.418) were main determinant of PPD. For level of physical activity Mann Whitney test showed significant difference between levels of physical activity among female with or without depression (p value: 0.000)

Conclusion: Prevalence of postpartum depression in twin city was 36.9 %. Abnormality during hospital stay, unwanted pregnancy, experience of abortion, Twin child birth, early, mother child separation, previous depression, baby sex were the main risk factor for postnatal depression. Level of sociability and physical activity of postpartum female’s falls in moderate category.

Keywords: Depression, Maternal mental health, Maternal well-being, Post-natal period, Postpartum depression,