Prevalence and Determinants of Postpartum Depression Among Women Attending Postnatal Clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital: a Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health concern, which is often underdiagnosed due to the associated stigma. PPD is more prevalent in developing countries due to limited resources, and is up to 20% as compared to 10% prevalence in high resource countries. It is estimated to be in the range of 6% to 39% in East Africa. Broad objective: To assess the prevalence and determinants of postpartum depression among women attending postnatal clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital. Methods: Using hospital-based cross-sectional study, the study recruited 174 women attending the post-natal clinic 6- 8 weeks post-delivery. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire was used and cut-off score of > 13 was used to assess eligible patients. Results: A total of 174 postnatal mothers were evaluated at Kenyatta National Hospital- post natal clinic and found a prevalence rate of 58.0% (n=101). Participants who were 20-29 years, and 30 and above year-olds were 1.4(95% CI, 0.4-4.7, p=0.545) and 1.3 (95% CI, 0.4-5.0, p 0.668) times more likely to suffer from PPD when compared to the younger age group of the 10–19-year-olds, but their associations were not statistically significant. The married and the separated/divorced/widowed were 3.6(95% CI,1.5-8.5, p=0.004) and 11.1 (95% CI,2.0-61.4, p 0.006) times more likely to suffer from PPD when compared to the singles. Their associations to the singles were statistically significant. The odds of depression were also higher in those whose last mode of delivery was through CS, 1.5(95% CI, 0.7-3.3, p=0.306), preterm delivery was 2.3(95% CI, 0.9-5.8, p=0.072), Women who did not have support from their families and friends at 3.8(95% CI, 1.4-10.5, p=0.011) Conclusion: According to this study, the prevalence of PPD among women attending the postnatal clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital was 58.0%, a figure that is noticeably higher than that seen in other studies. According to statistics, PPD is linked to unemployment and low household income. Postpartum depression was associated with unfavorable life events, domestic violent during pregnancy, lack of social support and marital satisfaction. This study was done during the covid period, and studies have indicated this was a stressful period, that wound have contributed to high rate of PPD