Postpartum Depression in Turkey: Prevalence and Related Factors

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and the risk factors of postpartum depression (PPD) a crosssectional study was conducted in Samsun, in Turkey. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 1 and April 30, 2002 at the all of 20 primary health care centers in Samsun, Turkey. The study included 380 women, gave birth in January 1-February 28, 2002. Each woman filled Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale by herself in eighth week postpartum and a syndromal depression point was assessed. Resultts: The mean age of the participants was 26.9 +/- 0.3 yr old and 88(23.1%) mothers had PPD. There were statistically significant differences between depressed and non-depressed mothers in social insurance (p<0.01), previous psychiatric disorder (p<0.001), family history of psychiatric disorder (p<0.01), couple relation (p<0.01), education level of spouse (p<0.01) and type of birth (p<0.01). Using multivariate analyses with logistic regression, in which PPD was taken as dependent variable and social insurance, previous psychiatric disorder, family history of psychiatric disorder, couple relation, education level of spouse and method of birth were independent variables, absence of social insurance [OR= 2.0, (1.1-3.5)], previous psychiatric disorder [OR= 3.6, (1.6-7.9)], and vaginal delivery [OR= 2.0, (1.1-3.5)] were found to be associated with development of PPD. Conclusion: Leaving depressed mothers untreated not only causes profound suffering, it may also bring about marital estrangement, absenteeism from work, child abuse, cognitive and emotional maldevelopment of the infants, and sometimes, suicides and infanticides. Universal screening for PPD using the EPDS can be successfully implemented in primary care practices and may be associated with a significant increase in the rate of recognition, diagnosis and treatment of PPD.