Abstract
Background: Postpartum depression is mental health disorder that affects on mother's health.That start immediately after delivery up to 6 weeks (42 days) but some studies extend up to 12 month after delivery.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers within six weeks of postpartum and to identify the socio-demographic factors associated with postpartum depression.
Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Gynecology ward of people’s medical hospital nawabshah. Data collected through evaluator administered questionnaires was used to gather determinants of postnatal depression in women and also Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS) was used to screen the manifestations of postpartum depression.
Results: Among 246 women aged 20–40 years (mean 27.13 ± 4.35), 48.4% experienced postpartum depression (PPD). Demographic factors were mostly not significant, except family type (χ² = 5.322, p = 0.037), baby’s condition (χ² = 10.617, p = 0.005), and maternal chronic illness (χ² = 6.301, p = 0.012). Cultural factors such as lack of family emotional support (χ² = 13.703, p = 0.003) and low awareness of postnatal care (χ² = 9.926, p = 0.019) were significantly associated with higher depression severity, while breastfeeding encouragement was not (χ² = 4.300, p = 0.231). Social factors, including low community support (χ² = 10.088, p = 0.018) and unplanned pregnancy (χ² = 9.951, p = 0.019), were significant; husband support remained stable (χ² = 5.958, p = 0.114). Biological factors—hormonal changes (χ² = 17.850, p < 0.001), preterm birth (χ² = 13.543, p = 0.004), hypertensive complications (χ² = 14.520, p = 0.002), and low birth weight (χ² = 7.876, p = 0.049)—were linked to depression severity. Psychological symptoms—including stress, anxiety, restlessness, bonding difficulty, sleep disturbance, and crying—also increased with severity (p-values 0.001–<0.001). Behavioral factors such as smoking (p = 0.019) and junk food intake (p = 0.001) were significant, while exercise (p = 0.072) and skipping meals (χ² = 7.068, p = 0.070) were not. These findings indicate that PPD is influenced by a complex interplay of cultural, social, biological, psychological, and lifestyle factors.
Conclusion: The prevalence of postpartum depression in nawabshah was near to past studies, women were Multiparous and financial difficulties, low Education level of husband and mother, husband were unemployed, lives in joint family poor support of community, low exercise, poor sleeping, mothers has high level of stress has been identified main risk factors that cause postpartum depression in women. These findings emphasize the need for early screening, awareness, and psychosocial support to improve maternal well-being and promote healthy mother-infant bonding.