Postpartum depression: The prevalence and associated factors among women attending postnatal clinics in the Bawku municipality, Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: This study examined postpartum depression (PPD) among mothers in the Bawku municipality of Ghana, aiming to assess its prevalence and associated risk factors. Methods: A total of 242 women, 2–12 weeks postpartum, were randomly recruited for this cross-sectional analytical study. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used for depression screening, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the factors associated with PPD. Results: The study showed that 34.7% of the postpartum mothers were within the age range of 25–29, with a mean age of 27.9 (standard deviation [SD] ± 6.33). The prevalence of PPD was 50.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 43.9–56.9). Several significant risk factors were identified, including inadequate prenatal visits (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 13.44, 95% CI 3.66–49.37, P < 0.001), obstetric complications (aOR = 3.39, 95% CI 1.23–11.19, P = 0.019), less than 3 weeks postpartum (aOR = 8.14, 95% CI 1.95, 33.94, P = 0.004), 6–8 weeks postpartum (aOR = 7.72, 95% CI 1.71–34.80, P = 0.008), and stressful life events (aOR = 3.30, 95% CI 1.23–8.89, P = 0.018). Conclusion: The study concluded that the prevalence of PPD in the Bawku municipality is higher than previously reported in Ghana, emphasizing the need for early identification of pregnant women at risk for PPD.