Prevalence of postpartum depression and associated factors among mothers in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Background</h3> Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common psychiatric illness after childbirth which affects the health of mothers and children. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of suspected-PPD and associated factors among postpartum women in Afghanistan. <h3>Methods</h3> This is a cross-sectional study conducted at 17 health facilities in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. Data (socio-demographic factors, obstetric and clinical factors, and social support factors) were collected from 556 women 6–8 weeks postpartum from January to February 2021. When a total score of the Persian-version Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was 13 or higher, women were categorized into suspected-PPD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with suspected-PPD. <h3>Results</h3> The prevalence of suspected-PPD was 49.3 %. Factors associated with suspected-PPD were no education compared to secondary or higher education, monthly household income of ≤20,000 Afghani compared to ≥21,000 Afghani, husbands with no education compared to husbands with secondary or higher education, husband's occupation as farmer/laborer/unemployed compared to other employment, experience of a child death, antenatal care (ANC) visits <4, perinatal complications, cesarean section, low birth weight, history of depression, and husband's substance use. <h3>Conclusions</h3> In Afghanistan, the prevalence of suspected-PPD was high. Low socio-economic status, mental problems of women and their husbands, less use of ANC, and complications of mothers and babies were risk factors of PPD. The maternal and child healthcare system should be promoted and maternal and child health education including PPD should be provided to pregnant women and their families.