Abstract

DLAMINI, Lindelwa P.; MAHANYA, Sotah; DLAMINI, Sizakele D.  and  SHONGWE, Mduduzi C.. Prevalence and factors associated with postpartum depression at a primary healthcare facility in Eswatini. S. Afr. j. psyc. [online]. 2019, vol.25, n.1, pp.1-7. ISSN 2078-6786.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v25i0.1404.

BACKGROUND: Routine mental health screening has not been integrated into maternal and child health (MCH) services in many developing countries, including in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). As a result, the burden of postpartum depression (PPD) is not well understood and thus PPD remains untreated in such settings. AIM: To describe the prevalence and factors associated with PPD among women seeking postnatal and child welfare services at a primary healthcare facility in Eswatini. SETTING: The study was conducted at the King Sobhuza II Public Health Unit in Manzini, Eswatini. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that used convenience sampling and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to screen for depression among 114 mothers during the first 6 weeks of postpartum at the King Sobhuza II Public Health Unit, Manzini, Eswatini. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with PPD. RESULTS: A majority of the participants were older than 24 years (52.6%) and unemployed (64.9%), whereas 47.4% screened positive for PPD (≥ 13 score). Adjusting for other covariates, those who were unemployed (odds ratio [OR] = 3.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-8.79) and with poor social support from their partners (OR = 9.41, 95% CI: 3.52-25.14) were more likely to be depressed, while those who attended antenatal classes fewer than four times were less likely to be depressed (OR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.11-0.920. CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of PPD. There is a need to introduce routine maternal mental health screening during the postpartum period to ensure early detection and treatment of PPD.

Keywords : maternal mental health; perinatal depression; postnatal depression; postpartum; postpartum depression.

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