A comparative study of frequency of postnatal depression among subjects with normal and caesarean deliveries

Background: The prevalence of postnatal depression (PND) is 12-15%. Recent studies are equivocal about the earlier inference that PND is higher among caesarian than normal delivery. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of PND among the Indian women and the association be...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ganraj Bhat Sankapithilu, Anil Kumar Mysore Nagaraj, Shrinivasa Bhat Undaru, Raveesh Bevinahalli Nanjegowda, Vinayak Nagaraja
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Light House Polyclinic Mangalore 2010-07-01
Series:Online Journal of Health & Allied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ojhas.org/issue34/2010-2-4.htm
Description
Summary:Background: The prevalence of postnatal depression (PND) is 12-15%. Recent studies are equivocal about the earlier inference that PND is higher among caesarian than normal delivery. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of PND among the Indian women and the association between the mode of delivery and PND. Material and method: Fifty subjects each; having delivered normally and by caesarian section was chosen. All the women were within 3 months post delivery and could understand Kannada language. Those who consented were asked to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Those found to have scores suggestive of depression on EPDS were assessed for depression according to ICD-10. The data was analyzed using paired t test and chi square test. Result and conclusion: Among Post caesarean subjects, depression was diagnosed in 20% (n=10) as compared to 16% (n=8) in subjects that delivered normally. However there was no significant difference in the frequency of depression among the two groups. Due to the small sample size the results cannot be generalized.
ISSN:0972-5997