Postpartum Depression and Related Factors in Rural Areas of Najafabad, Iran

Aim and Despite prominent medical health improvement programs for women of reproductive ages in recent years, the mental health of this group has been neglected. An increasing trend had been observed in the rate of depression among women of reproductive ages. Depression has negative effects on the health status and quality of life (QOL) of women and their family members. Moreover, sociocultural factors in different societies have high impact on depression in women. Due to the abovementioned factors, this study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of postpartum depression and its correlation with some socio-demographic risk factors in women referred to local health centers in Najafabad, Iran. Using the results of this study, recommendations for health plans can be provided based on local risk factors.
Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in the summer of 2004. The study subjects included all mothers of rural areas of Najafabad who had given birth 2-12 months prior to the study
(640 women). The data collection tools consisted of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a researcher-made socio-demographic questionnaire.
Findings: The total prevalence of depression was 37.2%. Being a housewife, unplanned pregnancy, lack of breastfeeding, prominent congenital malformation of the infant, primiparity, and multiparity (more than 3 births) were the main factors related to postpartum depression in this study. Postpartum depression had no significant relations with mother’s age and level of education, delivery mode, dissatisfaction with infant’s gender, and family economic status.
The numerous previous studies have not provided reliable supporting evidence for the existence of common socio-demographic risk factors for postpartum depression in different societies. Thus, all public health interventions for the prevention of postpartum depression must to be based on regional risk factors.