Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression among Postnatal Women in a Tertiary Care Hospital, South India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common, underrecognized complication of childbirth, with adverse effects on maternal well-being, mother–infant bonding, and child development. Population-based data on PPD from India remain scarce despite established screening in high-income countries. To estimate the prevalence of PPD among women availing maternal health services in a tertiary care hospital and identify associated sociodemographic and clinical risk factors. A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months among 100 postnatal women (within 4 weeks of delivery, aged >18 years) recruited by convenience sampling from a government tertiary care hospital in Chennai. Depressive symptoms were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; a score ≥13 indicated probable PPD. Sociodemographic and obstetric data were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed for significant associations ( P < 0.05). The prevalence of PPD was 12% (95% CI: 6.4–20.5). A poor marital relationship (OR: 103.2; P < 0.001), a personal history of a suicide attempt (OR: 92.6; P < 0.001), and a family history of suicide death (OR: 5.0; P = 0.025) were significantly associated with PPD; age, religion, education, socioeconomic status, family type, parity, mode of delivery, past illness, obstetric history, and neonatal complications were not. One in eight postnatal women screened positive for PPD. Marital discord and a personal or family history of suicidal behavior were the strongest correlates, supporting routine depression and suicide risk screening in antenatal and postnatal care.