Frequency of postpartum depression and its effects on quality of life amongst mothers attending EPI Center, PIMS Islamabad

Frequency of postpartum depression and its effects

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
- To assess the prevalence of postpartum depression.
- To assess the effects of postpartum depression on quality of life.

Study Design: Cross sectional study design and Non probability convenient sampling technique was used.

Study Place & Duration: Data were collected in EPI centre, PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) Islamabad over a duration of eight months (October 2022 to May 2023).

Materials and Methods: Demographic questionnaire, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Urdu version 1 was used to assess frequency of postpartum depression and WHOQOL-BREF 2 (World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version) to assess the quality of life of the participants.

Consent was obtained from all participants before they completed the questionnaire. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. For categorical and continuous variables, frequency was calculated. Chi square was applied. P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Our study population is mothers of infants presenting in EPI centre of PIMS. Sample size of 240 was calculated using WHO sample size calculator with 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error.

Results:
- Overall, 66.3% of the population had postpartum depression (PPD) according to EPDS.

- 10.8% participants with postpartum depression scored 45 or below on WHOQOL (World Health Organization Quality of Life) scale showing low quality of life.

- 68.3% participants with postpartum depression scored between 46 and 65 on WHOQOL scale showing moderate quality of life.

- 20.8% participants with postpartum depression scored 66 or above on WHOQOL scale showing high quality of life.

Conclusion: This study shows that frequency of postpartum depression is very high in our society and has a substantial effect on the quality of life of mothers.