Risk factors associated with postpartum depression in two tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar: a comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Postpartum depression has become a common complication in women in their postpartum period, affecting not only the mother but her child and her family. Due to lack of awareness regarding the subject it has been widely neglected, especially in Pakistan.
Objective: To determine and compare the frequency and risk factors associated with postpartum depression in a public and a private tertiary care hospital in Peshawar.
Materials & Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the Gynecology and Pediatrics OPD and Pediatrics ward of Rehman Medical Institute (RMI) and Gynecology and Pediatrics OPD as well as the vaccination center of Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) over a period of 6 months (January to June 2016). The women were interviewed after obtaining informed consent during 1-12 months of their postpartum period using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as well as a pretested self-structured questionnaire. Chi Square test and binary logistic regression were used to determine the relative significance of various risk factors for PPD.
Results: A total of 280 women were interviewed, 140 in each hospital, their ages ranging from 16 to 45 years. The frequency of PPD calculated at RMI was 62.7% and at HMC it was 37.3% (p=0.001). Risk factors that showed a close association with PPD included the level of education of women (p=0.008), family support (p=0.022), and history of previous trauma (p= 0.055).
Conclusion: Postpartum depression is twice as likely to occur in a private tertiary care hospital compared to a public one, and appears related to educational status, family help, and history of trauma.
Keywords: Depression, Postpartum; Postpartum Period, Mothers; Child; Breast Feeding; Childbirth