Perception of postpartum depressive symptoms and associated risk factors. A study in the women of Hail, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is an episode of mood disorder that occurs within four weeks after delivery. It's a major health problem affecting the mothers after childbirth. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to determine the knowledge and perception of PPD in the women of Saudi Arabia and its association with different risk factors. This study was conducted in Hail from December 2022 to February 2023 and sample size was 316. The data was collected on a pre-designed questionnaire, from mothers aged 20-45, with no known psychiatric illness. The questionnaire includes demographics, number of children, mode of delivery, loss of close family member during pregnancy, family support during pregnancy, abusive partner and bad obstetrical history. The symptoms used in the study taken from Edinburgh scoring system. The data was analysed to see the knowledge and perception of postpartum depression and association with different risk factors. Conclusion: The study showed strong association of numerous risk factors in the women who experienced different depressive symptoms during their postpartum periods, although they were not diagnosed with any psychiatric illness. It will provide the foundation for health care providers to do early screening in woman high risk for postpartum depression.