ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) and associated factors in patients who have given birth in our clinic.

This was a prospective controlled study including 482 cases. All the subjects were evaluated using the Beck depression inventory during antenatal period and those with a Beck depression inventory score of higher than 17 were excluded. Hence, we included 431 subjects. Age, duration and number of marriage, education level, economic status, personal factors as well as the factors associated with labor and newborn were investigated. These factors were compared between women with and without PPD by using Pearson’s chi-square test. The factors which increased PPD were also investigated by using multivariate analysis. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

PPD was observed in 34.8% of subjects (n=150). Previous marriage, continuous drug use and newborn taken to intensive care unit increased the incidence of PPD three times (p=0.003), 2.5 times (p=0.018), and 4.3 times (p=0.005), respectively.

Economic, personal and labor-associated factors can increase PPD. These factors should be taken into consideration after birth and psychiatric consultation should be requested if necessary.