Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Guided Assessment of Postpartum Depression Level and Formulation of Structured Educational Module for Postnatal Mothers: A Hospital-Based Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a concerning mental health issue among postnatal mothers that adversely affects the well-being of the mother, mother-newborn bonding, and child development. Despite its high prevalence, in many healthcare setups, the early screening, identification and awareness of PPD remain inadequate, especially in developing countries. The screening tools, such as the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), are widely used and play a pivotal role in early identification of the depressive symptoms of PPD during the postnatal period. The objective of the current study was to assess the postpartum depression level among the postnatal mothers using the EPDS, along with examining its association with the selected socio-demographic variables and to develop a structured educational module to enhance awareness and preventive practices related to it. It is a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study. This study was conducted among the 100 postnatal mothers from a tertiary healthcare center in India, and they were selected via a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured socio-demographic questionnaire and standardized EPDS scale. Descriptive statistics were used for demographics and depression levels, and a chi-square test was used to find out the association between postpartum depression and selected demographic variables at a significance level of p <0.05. The study results showed that 33% of the postnatal mothers had no or minimal depression, 58% had mild, 5% had moderate and 4% had severe depression. This study also revealed a statistically significant association between maternal age and postpartum depression level (χ²=23.83, p <0.05). The study concluded that postpartum depressions are common among postnatal mothers, especially in the early postpartum period. Routine screening through EPDS and implementation of the structured educational module are essential to enhance early identification, awareness and prevention of postpartum depression.