A Cross Sectional Hospital Based Study of Antepartum Depression and its’ Risk Factors

Context and Aims: Antepartum depression in women is common and is of immense public health importance, as it can adversely affect both the mother and child; therefore it is necessary to identify women suffering from antepartum depression. The associated risk factors can be used for the screening to identify and manage the problem in time. This study was planned to evaluate women attending the hospital for Antepartum depression and to identify the probable risk factors. Methods and Materials: Pregnant mothers in second and third trimester coming for antenatal checkup Inclusion-criteria: All Antenatal women willing to participate in study. Exclusion-criteria- H/O any psychotic disorder, diabetes,any obstetric complication. Sample-size: 665, Sampling-Technique: Two stage sampling: Hospitals selected randomly. Purposive sampling for Study-subject. Study-duration: 6 months Study-tools: i. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]. ii.Pre designed, pilot tested questionnaire. Results: There were 665 mothers with age ranging from 18 to38 years, mean 25.42± SD 3.57. Possible depression (EPDS score ≥ 10) was present in 71 (10.7%) of mothers. Possible Depressionwas significantly high in age 34-38 yrs (33.3%, x²=59.02, p=0.00), third gravida (42.9%, x2=83.516, p=0.000), mothers with 5-10std education (20%, x²=7.723, p=0.02), in employed women (33.9%, x²=42.62, p=0.00), in mothers whose husbands with 5-10 std education (18.2%, x²=16.98, p=0.000), in joint family type (14.5%, x²=6.917, p=0.009), having previous female child (92.9%, x²=71.626, p=0.000), financial constrains (50%, x²=6.52, p=0.011) and stressful life events (71.4%, x²=27.37, p=0.00). Strong Predictors of antenatal depression were employed mothers and female sex of previous child. Conclusion: Possible antepartum depression was common as nearly 11% of mothers were having EPDS score above or equal to 10. Risk factors were previous female child and mother working as a employee.