Relationship Between Postpartum Care Practices and Mental Health Outcomes: Understanding the Impact on Maternal Well-Being

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major mental health condition affecting mothers during the first year postpartum, often beginning within the initial six weeks. The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between postpartum care practices and their effects on maternal mental health outcomes. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between postpartum care practices and their effects on maternal mental health outcomes. Methods: This prospective observational study included 130 postpartum women aged 18-45, recruited from the outpatient and inpatient departments of BSMMU and Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, from July 2020 to June 2021. Women were eligible if they were within six months postpartum and provided informed consent. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires, including the EPDS and GAD-7 scales. Analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22.0. Result: The majority of patients, 83 (63.85%), are in the ≥30 age group, have completed primary school, 92 (70.77%), and are Muslim, 104 (80.00%). For pre-pregnancy BMI, 58 (44.62%) of patients had a normal BMI. Parental support was available to 111 (85.38%) of patients. Regarding mental health outcomes, 74 (56.92%) of patients scored within the normal range on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Conclusion: The study concludes that comprehensive postpartum support systems are crucial for reducing maternal depression and anxiety, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and systematic screening in postpartum care to improve mental health outcomes.