FREQUENCY OF POSTNATAL DEPRESSION AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objectives: To determine frequency of postnatal depression, among patients presenting at a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Post-graduate Medical Institute, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar from September 2010 to March 2011. This was a cross sectional (descriptive) study on 133 patients who were 6-12 weeks postnatal. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to detect postnatal depression. Results: In this study, out of 133 participants, Post natal depression was found in 40 subjects, based on EPDS score of >12, resulting in prevalence of 30%. Conclusion: Postpartum depression is a substantial clinical, economic and social problem which mostly goes unrecognized unless routine screening in postpartum period is performed.