BACKGROUND: Depression after childbirth affects both the mother and her infant. In South-Asia, maternal depression might also contribute to poor infant growth. Knowledge of risk factors could improve the health workers' recognition of depression. AIM: To examine possible risk factors for depression in the postnatal period among women in one clinical, one urban and one rural population in Lalitpur district, Nepal. METHOD: A total of 426 postnatal women were included in a cross-sectional structured interview study, 5-10 weeks after delivery. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that depression (EPDS>12) was strongly associated with husband's alcoholism, polygamy and previous depression. Other significant factors were stressful life events, multiparity, smoking and depression during pregnancy. There was a non-significant trend of lower depressive scores among women living in arranged marriages, and among women practicing the tradition of staying in their maternal home after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to previously documented risk factors, traditional family structures may influence the risk of depression among postnatal women in Nepal.
BACKGROUND:Depression after childbirth affects both the mother and her infant. In South-Asia, maternal depression might also contribute to poor infant growth. Knowledge of risk factors could improve the health workers' recognition of depression. AIM: To examine possible risk factors for depression in the postnatal period among women in one clinical, one urban and one rural population in Lalitpur district, Nepal. METHOD: A total of 426 postnatal women were included in a cross-sectional structured interview study, 5-10 weeks after delivery. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that depression (EPDS>12) was strongly associated with husband's alcoholism, polygamy and previous depression. Other significant factors were stressful life events, multiparity, smoking and depression during pregnancy. There was a non-significant trend of lower depressive scores among women living in arranged marriages, and among women practicing the tradition of staying in their maternal home after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to previously documented risk factors, traditional family structures may influence the risk of depression among postnatal women in Nepal.
Authors: Jane Fisher; Meena Cabral de Mello; Vikram Patel; Atif Rahman; Thach Tran; Sara Holton; Wendy Holmes Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2011-11-24 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Charlotte Hanlon; Girmay Medhin; Atalay Alem; Mesfin Araya; Abdulreshid Abdulahi; Mark Tomlinson; Marcus Hughes; Vikram Patel; Michael Dewey; Martin Prince Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2010-12 Impact factor: 9.319