Correlates of postnatal depression among women in Zimbabwean semi-urban and rural settings

Abstract

This study explored antecedents to postnatal depression and its prevalence in semi-urban and rural Zimbabwean communities. 115 women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The mean age of participants was 25.8 years (SD = 5.4 years). Descriptive statistical analysis indicated a postnatal depression prevalence of 30.5%. Factors associated with postpartum depression were: intimate partner violence (p = 0.02), history of childhood abuse (p < 0.001), lack of social support (p < 0.01) and having a female child as the first child (p = 0.004). Prevalence for postnatal depression is high in this setting and it is imperative to identify women at risk of depression through screening so that psychological interventions can be instituted in primary care settings.