IDENTIFYING RISK FACTORS AND SCREENING OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IN POSTNATAL MOTHERS IN A TERITARY CARE CENTRE, A PROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as a depressive episode occurring during pregnancy or until 4-weeks post-childbirth. Studies show that postpartum depression (PPD) affects at least 10 percent of women and that many depressed mothers do not get proper treatment. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was developed to assist health professionals in detecting mothers suffering from Postpartum depression. Aim & Objective: To Identify the risk factors and screening of Post partum depression in postnatal mothers in a Tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: A Prospective Study conducted on Postnatal women. Data collected regarding history, complaints, risk factors and Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. Results: In our study, according to Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS),among postnatal mothers screened 1% of postnatal mothers have postpartum depression,19% mothers are at risk of postpartum depression, remaining 80% of population screened is devoid of symptoms. Conclusion: The EPDS was tailored to distinguish between the typical stress and fatigue postpartum women often experience and the more severe symptoms of depression This method of questioning aims to capture the frequency and severity of depressive symptoms, providing clinicians with a clear picture of a patient’s mental state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]