Screening of Postpartum Depression and Its Correlates among Postpartum Women

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent and significant mental health condition that affects both mothers and infants, with widespread implications for family dynamics. Aim: This study aims to screen and identify the correlates of PPD among postpartum women. Design: A descriptive correlational design was employed with a sample of 500 postpartum women from Kasr El Ainy University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Data were collected using a Maternal Interviewing Questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results: according to The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, 58.0% of women at delivery were identified as high-risk for postpartum depression. Notably, this proportion decreased substantially to 25.6% by the fourth week postpartum. Factors significantly associated with increased the risk of postpartum depression in women in the correlation analysis were age; educational level; personal and family history of mental illness; obesity; obstetric factors such as gestational age, higher number of children, preterm birth, having a diseased baby, health problems during pregnancy, attitude toward pregnancy and antenatal follow-up; psychosocial factors such as social, husband and family support, exposure to stressful life events, domestic violence and financial distress. Conclusion: The study highlights the complex interplay of personal, familial, and medical factors in the development of postpartum depression. Recommendation: Design targeted interventions addressing modifiable risk factors identified in this study.