TITLE:
A Prospective Study on the Incidence and Predictors of Postpartum Depression among Pregnant Women Attending an Antenatal Clinic in Kano, Northern Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Asmaul Husna Abba, Fawaz Babandi, Umar Musa Usman, Zahraddeen Garba Habib, Desola Shakirat Owolabi, Mustapha Ibrahim Gudaji, Aminu Abdullahi Taura, Chikaodiri Nkeweurem Aghukwa, Abubakar Sulaiman Baguda, Auwalu Sani Salihu
KEYWORDS:
Postpartum, Depression, Pregnant Women
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.13 No.3,
July
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: Depressive disorder is a major
contributor to years lived with disability (YLD) globally. It is estimated that
13% of all women experience the disorder in the first year postpartum. Postpartum
depression (PPD) has significant implications to the physical and mental
wellbeing of both the mother and her baby. Only non-depressed pregnant women
(score of ≤ 6 on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) were recruited into this
study. Data collection was done at 2 different stages; at recruitment stage
(during the third trimester of pregnancy) and at the follow up stage (4th - 6th week
postpartum). During the recruitment stage, intimate partner violence (IPV) and
level of social support perception, among the women, were assessed using Hurt
Insult Threaten Scream (HITS) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social
Support (MSPSS) questionnaires respectively. While at the follow up stage, the
Obstetric questionnaire and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview
(MINI-7) were used respectively to obtain obstetric-related data and to diagnose
for occurrence of depression. The incidence of PPD was found to be 16.34%.
Several factors such as level of education, husband’s socioeconomic status,
stressful life events, low perception of social support, obstetric instrumentation
and not having a baby of preferred gender were significantly associated with
PPD. Positive predictors of PPD included not practicing breast feeding (OR = 186.72, 95% CI = 8.32 - 4188.35), family history of
mental illness (OR = 4.95, 95% CI = 1.04 - 23.81) and pregnancy lasting
beyond 40 weeks (OR = 7.26, 95% CI = 1.51 - 34.88). High incidence of PPD
with numerous
associated but largely modifiable risk factors call for more proactive measures, such as PPD screening among pregnant
women.