A Cross Sectional Study on Prevalence of Postpartum Depression among Recently Delivered Women in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Chennai, India

Background: Postpartum depression is a common type of depression most people are not much aware and the most important causes being poverty, unwanted child/gender, marital disharmony and lack of family support.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of postpartum depression among recently delivered women in a tertiary care hospital in an urban setup.

Methodology: It was a cross sectional type of study in urban population in a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. Data on postpartum depression was collected using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS).

Results: A total 165 postpartum women participated in the study. The prevalence of postpartum depression was found to be 19.23% (an EPDS score of 10 and above) and it was noted in our study that none of these women sort to any medical help.

Conclusion: The study shows prevalence of postpartum depression is quite high and none of those women seeked appropriate medical help. All health care professionals have to be trained to raise awareness, detect and treat postpartum depression among women promptly.