Postpartum depression and associated risk factors: a descriptive study in tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth which may cause feeling of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may lead to hamper of daily care activities for themselves and others. Aim: To determine presence of depression and associated risk factors among postnatal mothers. Methods and material: Fifty postnatal mothers, aged between 18-44 years were selected from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Guwahati, Assam, India. The presence of postpartum depression and maternal bonding with baby were assessed by using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Postpartum Bonding Instrument. Results: The prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers was 26%. Prevalence was found higher among the Muslim postnatal mothers. ‘Confidence and anxiety' and ‘aggression to baby' were found more significant which adversely affected bonding with their babies. Conclusions: Postpartum depression was found in a high number of mothers and it adversely affected bonding to their babies.