A Study of Postnatal Depression and Its Determinants in Postnatal Women Residing In Rural Areas of Ahemdabad District, Gujarat, India

Introduction: Improving maternal health is one of the UN Millennium Development Goal. Birth of baby can trigger jumble of powerful emotions, but it may result Post Natal Depression(PND). This study was carried out to screen postnatal women suffering from depression. Aim and Objectives: (1) To study the prevalence of postnatal depression in rural areas of Ahmedabad district by using E.P.D.S.(Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). (2)To find out association of postnatal depression with socio-demographic and other risk factors. Methodology: A Community based cross-sectional study was carried out in rural areas of Ahmedabad by house to house visit of 516 Postnatal women by using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)after obtaining informed verbal consent of women. The score was analyzed and the women suffering from depression were advised to consult psychiatry department for proper counseling and treatment. Results: The prevalence of depression was 12% in the post-natal women in rural Ahmedabad. Sociodemographic factors of postnatal women like age >30 years, nuclear family, domestic violence, imbalanced budget were significantly associated with the depression. Variables related to health of the mother like late pregnancy, bad obstetric history, unwanted pregnancy, preterm baby, caesarean section, past history of any psychiatry illness, current history of any chronic illness and complication to women during antenatal, intra or postnatal period were also significantly associated with the depression. The variables related to child like birth of the female child, very low birth weight, complication to child during ante, intra and postnatal period were also significantly associated with the depression.