Identification of women at risk for peripartum depression

Introduction: Peripartum depression is a common yet neglected entity in our society. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score is a valuable and efficient way of identifying patients at risk for peripartum depression. It is easy to administer and has been proven to be an effective screening tool. Objective: To find prevalence of peripartum depression in the study group and to study and evaluate the association of various factors causing peripartum depression using EPDS score. Materials and Methods: Five hundred peripartum women were interviewed using a structured questionnaire which included sociodemographic details like age, education, socioeconomic status, family structure, any history of previous psychiatric illness and outcome of current pregnancy in terms of mode of delivery, intranatal complications, gender of new born and neonatal complications. EPDS scoring was done and data was statistically analysed. Results: The prevalence of peripartum depression in our study was found to be 18%. (EPDS score≥13). Significant association (P<0.05) was found in parity, low socio economic group, joint family structure, past history of psychiatric illness, history of domestic violence, female gender of the infant and poor obstetric outcome. Conclusion: Mental health assessment and screening of high risks cases should be a part of routine antenatal care.