Prevalence & related factors to postnatal depression: A comparison between NVD & LSCS mothers

Postnatal depression is a critical and neglected phase in the life of mother and babies. Early detection of depression will reduce the morbidity & mortality among postnatal mother, says WHO as ‘Depression let’s talk’. The assessment for postnatal depression after delivery is not a routine practice in many of the hospitals of Odisha. Hence in view of this the current study was designed. The primary objective is to assess the prevalence of postnatal depressive cases and to find out the related factors responsible for same. The secondary objective is to determine the level of depression & its association with the demographic variables and the regression analysis of both the cases. This was a comparative study, conducted among 200 postnatal mothers, out of whom 100 were normal delivery (NVD) & rest 100 were lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) mothers admitted in postnatal ward of IMS & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The subjects were interviewed through a self structured demographic Performa & Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) within 3 days post delivery. As per the survey result, depression was more among mothers having caesarean delivery. The major factors contributing to depression were age and complications during antenatal and intra-natal period. However, high level depression was associated with normal delivery cases with poor economic background and lack of family support. This study may bring light to the prevalence & related factors to depression among postnatal mothers in IMS & SUM Hospital, so that healthcare professionals can focus more on counselling to the mothers on parenthood & other aspects so that the depression among the mothers not only can be early detected rather can be prevented.