Screening for postpartum depression among women in selected hospitals in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is better detected early and treated to prevent maternal and perinatal complications. However, PPD screening is not routine in our environment. The aim of the study was to screen for those at risk of postpartum depression among women attending postnatal clinic.

Methods: A cross sectional study carried out in selected hospitals in Kaduna. A questionnaire was administered to women during their 6 weeks postpartum clinic visit and information elicited on demographics, reproductive characteristics, potential confounders for PPD, and the Edinburgh postpartum Depression Scale, administered. Analysis was done using SPPS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) with a p-value of <0.05 deemed statistically significant.

Results: There were 300 participants. Majority of respondents were aged 20-29years (170, 56.7%), mean age was 27.51 ±5.759 years. Respondents were mostly well educated with 162 respondents (54%) schooled up to tertiary level, Muslim (224, 74.7%), Hausa (160,53.3%) and employed (172, 57.3%). All respondents were married, with most (266, 88.7%) in a monogamous setting and had been married for <10 years (251,83.7%). Only 17 respondents (5.7%) were at risk of PPD (EPDS score =13), while 41 respondents (13.7%) had signs of distress (EPDS score 10-12). Ethnicity, parity, baby's birthweight, baby not alive and experience of a recent stressful event were the only confounders significantly associated with the risk of PPD.

Conclusions: Among respondent, 5.7% had a high risk for PPD, which is lower than what was reported in previous studies. Ethnicity, parity, birthweight, death of the baby and experience of a recent stressful were significantly associated with this risk.