Abstract:
Background: Postpartum depressive symptoms are the occurrence of major depressive episode within 4 weeks
following delivery. Globally, 10%–20% of mothers suffer from depressive symptoms during their postpartum course.
Therefore, assessing postpartum depressive symptoms has a pivotal role in ensuring that their mental health needs
are met.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted including 511 mothers coming for postnatal
care service in public health centers in Bahir Dar Town. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured, and
interviewer-administered questionnaire, while the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess
individuals’ depressive symptoms. The systematic random sampling technique was employed to recruit the study
participants. Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to declare the statistical significance of
the factors.
Results: Postpartum depressive symptoms among mothers were found to be 22.1 (95%, CI 18.6%, 25.8%). In multivariate
logistic regression, stressful life events (AOR = 4.46, 95% CI 2.64, 7.54), domestic decision making (AOR = 4.26,
95% CI 2.54, 7.14), unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.02, 3.41), partner violence (AOR = 3.16, 95% CI 1.76,
5.67), and hospitalization of their babies (AOR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.17, 4.310) were factors significantly associated with
postpartum depressive symptoms.
Conclusions: Postpartum depressive symptoms among mothers were common in the study area. Stressful life
events, lack of empowerment in domestic decision making, intimate partner violence, unplanned pregnancy, and
hospitalization of their baby were factors significantly associated with postpartum depression. The Ministry of Health
needs to give training on how to screen postpartum depressive symptoms among mothers, and interventions that
would address the above factors would benefit in tackling further complications
