Maternal Mental Health Matters: A Look into Postpartum Depression Awareness among Pregnant Women in Karachi

The present cross-sectional research aimed to investigate the awareness of postpartum depression (PDD) in pregnant women of Karachi, Pakistan. A sample of 374 women was included through non-probability, purposive sampling from the Gynecology department of different hospitals and maternity clinics in Karachi. Once the ethical approval was received, consent form, demographic information sheet and survey-based questionnaire was given to the participants. The participants were briefed about the nature of the study and confidentiality as well as ethical considerations were fulfilled. The data collected was then transferred to SPSS version for statistical analysis. The results indicated that most women had moderate awareness of postpartum depression however they did not seek treatment. Moreover, women indicated that their healthcare provider and gynecologists did not provide them adequate information during checkups and appointment that could lead to early detection and most of them were unsatisfied with the treatment and sought to self-care practices. Majority of the women reported feeling depression, anxious and experiencing mood-swings during pregnancy resulting difficulty in bonding with the new-born baby after delivery. Women also indicated receiving moderate level of perceived social support from partners and family and most of them felt shame and guilt over PPD. The results are aligned with the literature present and depict a strong need for awareness as well as interventions encouraging actionable behaviors to seek professional treatment for the condition.