Demographic, psychosocial and clinical factors associated with postpartum depression in Kenyan women

Abstract

BackgroundFew longitudinal studies have examined associations between risk factors during pregnancy and mental health outcomes during the postpartum period. We used a cohort study design to estimate the prevalence, incidence and correlates of significant postpartum depressive symptoms in Kenyan women.MethodsWe recruited adult women residing in an urban, resource-poor setting and attending maternal and child health clinics in two public hospitals in Nairobi, Kenya. A translated Kiswahili Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale was used to screen for depressive symptoms at baseline assessment in the 3rd trimester and follow up assessment at 6–10 weeks postpartum. Information was collected on potential demographic, psychosocial and clinical risk variables. Potential risk factors for postpartum depression were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsOut of the 171 women who were followed up at 6–10 weeks postpartum, 18.7% (95% CI: 13.3–25.5) were found to have postpartum depression using an EPDS cut off of 10. In multivariate analyses, the odds of having postpartum depression was increased more than seven-fold in the presence of conflict with partner (OR = 7.52, 95% CI: 2.65–23.13). The association between antepartum and postpartum depression was quite strong but did not reach statistical significance (OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 0.98–11.64).ConclusionsThe high prevalence of significant postnatal depressive symptoms among Kenyan women underscores the need for addressing this public health burden. Depression screening and psychosocial support interventions that address partner conflict resolution should be offered as part of maternal health care.

Antenatal and Postpartum Depression: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Adolescents’ in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…Depression Research and Treatment surveys [22,[26][27][28][29][30][31]. Research in both urban and rural areas of South Africa has shown that the EPDS is a validated screening instrument [32][33][34][35][36], whereas other sub-Saharan countries have also validated the EPDS to screen for depression during and after pregnancy [19,[32][33][34][35].…”

Perinatal death triples the prevalence of postpartum depression among women in Northern Uganda: A community-based cross-sectional study

“…Although extensive studies have been conducted on postpartum depression [24][25][26][27][28][29], few have focused on women who have experienced a perinatal death [14,[30][31][32]. In our study context, the association between perinatal death and postpartum depression has not been established making this evidence scarce in Northern Uganda.…”

Multivariate analysis of risk factors for postpartum depression

“…In the presented study, the support received from relatives and midwives during childbirth was not an indicator of postpartum depression in women. Other studies report that the likelihood of PPD has increased more than seven-fold if there was conflict with a partner, including serious economic problems and ending the relationship [4,35]. Ongeri et al [35] report that mothers who had a good relationship with their mother-in--law and partner who assisted in raising the child, were less likely to have PPD.…”

“…Other studies report that the likelihood of PPD has increased more than seven-fold if there was conflict with a partner, including serious economic problems and ending the relationship [4,35]. Ongeri et al [35] report that mothers who had a good relationship with their mother-in--law and partner who assisted in raising the child, were less likely to have PPD. Scientific literature provides significant relationships between prenatal stressful life events and the risk of postpartum depression in women.…”