Objective:

In this study we aimed to figure out the rates of depression and the socioeconomic factors leading to depression in mothers with 0-1 year old babies using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); and correlating our results with the previous studies.

Material and Methods:

Mothers with 0-1 year old babies who admitted to the healthy baby outpatient clinic between July 20th to September 27th 2007 were included in this study. In this study pospartum sociodemographic data form and EPDS was used. 211 mothers enrolled in the study. 28 mothers refused their data to be used in the study. 7 mothers out of the 28 who refused to participate in the study had EPDS points indicating deppression. 183 mothers’ data were used in the study. Sociodemographic data form consisting of 51 questions were used to asses the sociodemographic properties of the mothers. To asses the prevelance of depression EPDS consisting of 10 questions were uses. The evaluation was done over 30 points and 13 points or higher was accepted as the cutoff point.

Results:

In our study depression symptomatology score was 30.6% with the EPDS cutoff point ≥13 . The average age of the women enrolled in the study was 27.5±5.45(minimum age:18, maximum age:43) 13.7% of the women had a personal history of treatment for a psychiatric illness. There was statically significant difference according to EPDS points in marriage satisfaction (p<0.01). Mothers who had high EPDS scores had statistically significant lower marriage satisfaction levels, mothers who had middle or low marriage satisfaction levels had statistically significant higher EPDS scores (p<0.01). Mothers who had a history of a psychiatric illness had statistically significant higher EPDS scores (p<0.01). Women with unemployed husbands, unexpected pregnancy, comorbidities during childbirth had statistically significant high EPDS scores (p<0.05).

Mothers who had babies with health problems, who were struggling when providing childcare, who were not breastfeeding their infant had significantly higher EPDS scores (p<0.01). Mothers who gave birth during the night had significantly higher EPDS scores (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

Postpartum depression is a serious health problem affecting many mothers and babies. Even though effective treatment is available, only half of the cases could be identified. Postpartum depression could be diagnosed with mass screening during antenatal period, early postpartum period and during the visits of the healthy baby outpatient clinic. There is a need for identifying a population based postpartum depression screening to enhance mother and baby health care.

Keywords: Postpartum depression, EPDS, baby, mother