Postpartum depression: the burden and determinants in resource constrained environments

ABSTRACT

Background: Depression occurring after delivery of a baby can be missed especially in resource constrained environments. Constraint in personnel and a low diagnostic index are probable reasons. A low diagnostic index or delay in diagnosis and treatment of postpartum depression (PPD) has adverse consequences on the family dynamics. Objective: The study aimed at determining the burden of postpartum depression that was missed after the first postnatal follow up visit at a tertiary hospital in Makurdi, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study of postpartum women at the immunization clinic at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi using the a semi-structured questionnaire containing the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) to assess for depression with a diagnostic cut off of 10 was done. Results: Three hundred and thirty postpartum women were assessed and the burden of PPD that was missed during a postnatal visit was 27.6%. No correlation was found between any social or economic demographics and PPD. Conclusion: The prevalence of missed PPD in Makurdi is high (27.6%), hence the need for high diagnostic index of suspicion and routine screening by the primary care physicians. Social or economic demographics alone should not be criteria for its suspicion