Original Article
English
Mustapha Gawass, Lubna Al-Maghur, Ramadan Gantri, Heam Ben Ragab
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Tripoli Medical Centre Tripoli, Libya
JMJ 2009,Vol.9, No.1: 41-45
Abstract
Objective: To identify the risk factors for the development of postpartum depression (PPD) in Libyan women. Setting: Obstetrics and gynaecology department, Tripoli medical centre , Tripoli, Libya. Patients and methods: Prospective study of 100 patients selected randomly from the postnatal ward over a period of 1 month (December 2006). The information was collected from the patient by direct questioning involving epidemiological data as well as risk factors for depression. The degree of depression was determined by using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in which the patient filled every 4 weeks following delivery. Results: The results of our questioning showed that 43% of the patients were not depressed (EPDS 0-4), 15% had borderline depression (EPDS score of 5-9), while 42% suffered from PPD (EPDS > 10). The study also showed a strong relationship between the development of PPD and an unhealthy baby, neonatal death, previous bad obstetrics experience, low parity and higher level of education. The relationship was weak between PPD and young age, history of infertility, delivery by caesarean section, history of hospital admission during the current pregnancy and presence of a medical problem. Presence of social problems did not seem to affect PPD.
Keywords: Postpartum depression (PPD), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale (EPDS).
Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/PDF/Spring2009/41.pdf