Prevalence and risk factors contributing to depression among pregnant women in district Chitral, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

To estimate the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among pregnant women in district Chitral, Pakistan. A descriptive cross sectional study. The study was carried out in a public hospital in district Chitral, Pakistan from May 2008 to June 2008. A consecutive sample of 340 pregnant women was approached for recruitment in the study. A short translated Khowar version of the Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale [AKUADS] was used to detect depression and a questionnaire was used to determine the associated factors of depression. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 15 using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression technique. Using the AKUADS, at a cut off score of e" 13, the prevalence of antenatal depression was around 34%. The multivariate analysis showed that verbal/physical abuse [P=<0.001], unplanned pregnancy [P=<0.001], and illiteracy [P=<0.001] were independently associated with depression. More than one third of pregnant women in district Chitral suffer from depression and this is associated with illiteracy, verbal/physical abuse and unplanned pregnancy. Policies must aim to incorporate routine screening programs for depression in obstetric care. Service providers can be trained to detect and manage depression and to refer women to the appropriate services. Counseling of couples may prevent unplanned pregnancies and reduce domestic violence