A Cross-Sectional Study on Prevalence of Post-Natal Depression and its Associates among Women in a Rural Community in Hooghly District, West Bengal

Background:Post-natal depression, aserious mental health problem experienced by mothers 4 to 6 weeks after delivery. Patients suffering from post- natal depression are at higher risk of developing major depressive illness in future life. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of post-natal depression and its associates among women in a rural community in Hooghly district, West Bengal. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 83 post-natal mothers (period of 6th to 10th week after delivery) in a rural community in Hooghly district, West Bengal, selected by simple random sampling technique from the list of mothers attending the immunization clinic in a health centreduring the period of April 2019 to September 2019. Data was collected by face-to-face interview and review of records by house to house visits. Depression was assessed by Edinburgh post-natal depression scale (EPDS).Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 16. Results: Prevalence of post-natal depression among study participants came out to be 28.9%. Poor socio-economic status (p=0.000). Unplanned pregnancy (p=0.025), Pre-term delivery (p=0.011) and increase in number of parity (p=0.025) were found to be statistically significantly associated with post-natal depression. Conclusion: Post-natal depression is a major public health problem which should be dealt with great concern while making policy for betterment of maternal and child health especially in low income countries like India. This can be detected early by health care providers in primary health care set up using simple screening tools. Special care and counselling should be provided to them.