Prevalence and Factors Associated with Postpartum Depressive Symptoms Among Women Attending Postnatal Check-Ups at Two Hospitals in Yunnan Province, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Postpartum depression is a prevalent maternal mental health concern during the early postpartum period. Nevertheless, limited evidence is available regarding this condition among postpartum women in Yunnan Province, China. Objectives: To examine the prevalence and severity of postpartum depression and to identify factors associated with postpartum depression among postpartum women attending postnatal check-ups at two hospitals in Yunnan Province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 168 postpartum women at 6 weeks postpartum at two hospitals in Yunnan Province. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Self-Rating Scale of Sleep, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Adherence to the “Doing-the-Month” Practice Scale. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms was 44.6%. In the adjusted model, poor sleep quality was associated with higher odds of postpartum depressive symptoms (aOR = 5.95, 95% CI: 2.78–12.70), whereas high perceived social support was associated with lower odds of these symptoms (aOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.15–0.70). Adherence to doing-the-month practices was not significantly associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Postpartum depressive symptoms were common at 6 weeks postpartum in this two-hospital sample from Yunnan Province. Routine postnatal care should incorporate early screening for depressive symptoms, the assessment of sleep quality, and strategies to strengthen perceived social support. These measures may facilitate the timely identification of women requiring further psychological evaluation and support.