Occurrence and factors associated with postpartum depression in the urban area of Brazil.

Aiming to track postpartum depression among women followed in Primary Health Care, a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were applied to 123 postpartum women between the second week and the sixth month after delivery. The frequency of postpartum depression in the sample was determined, and its association with sociodemographic variables was assessed using the chi-square test. Probable postpartum depression was identified in 19.51% of the participants, and this condition was associated with age group (36 to 44 years), age of the baby (4 or 6 months), marital status (divorced), low income and there was no association with maternal schooling. Thus, postpartum depression needs to be investigated in primary health care, paying attention to sociodemographic and individual aspects. These aspects need to be valued by nurses, who must establish a comprehensive care plan from prenatal care, to prevent this frequent puerperal disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]