KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AMONG WOMEN IN PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health condition that affects women after childbirth. Early recognition of PPD is crucial for preventing worsening of maternal mental health. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitudes about PPD among women in Pakistan. Methodology: A descriptive, multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted for 3 months in 3 public and 3 private sector hospitals in Lahore to collect data from 330 pregnant females at any gestational age, those with routine checkups 40 days after delivery, or those who came for treatment of PPD. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics were used to compute frequencies, and regression analysis was applied to determine factors influencing knowledge about PPD. Results: Knowledge about PPD was low, with a common misconception that it only exists with suicidal thoughts (57.3%) and occurs in females with previous psychological issues (64.3%). The majority of females (90%) had poor attitudes, believing that PPD would resolve on its own. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between age and knowledge about PPD. Univariate analysis revealed that participants aged 31–35 (OR 2.09; p = 0.05) and >35 years (OR 2.26; p = 0.04) were more likely to have good knowledge than those aged <25 years. Educational level, family income, and area of residence did not significantly influence knowledge of PPD. Conclusion: The study revealed low levels of knowledge regarding PPD. Increasing educational awareness is crucial for improving PPD recognition and management.