One in Four Mothers Suffer from Postpartum Depression in Adama Town, Central Oromia Region of Ethiopia: a Cross Sectional Study

Aim: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health problem that affects mothers after childbirth and can last up to a year. However, research on the size and factors related with postpartum depression in mothers following childbirth in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area, is limited. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for postpartum depression in Adama Town, Ethiopia. Subjects and Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was undertaken on 416 mothers receiving postpartum care from October 1st to December 31st, 2020. The study participants were chosen via systematic random sampling. Face-to-face interviews with semi-structured questionnaires were utilized to collect data, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was employed to measure postpartum depression. STATA Version 17 was used to analyse the data. Results: The prevalence of postpartum depression was 25 % (95 % confidence interval: (21.1 % - 29. 2 %). Previous history of depression (AOR = 3.07, 95 % CI: 3.84 - 5.15), an unhappy marital relationship (AOR = 2.0, 95 %CI: 1.09 - 3.68), a lack of partner support (AOR = 2.41, 95 % CI: 1.29 - 4.48), and intimate partner violence during pregnancy (AOR = 1.89, 95 % CI: 1.06 - 3.37) were associated with postpartum depression. Conclusion: Postpartum depression symptoms affect one out of every four women who received postnatal care during the study period. Early detection and treatment of postpartum depression in women during antenatal visits should be prioritized, and interventions that target the aforementioned causes would help to alleviate the problem.