Abstract:

Background: Postpartum depression is a significant public health problem, which effects about 28.8% of mothers globally and which exerts a negative impact on mother’s health and the child.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with postpartum depression among women delivered at BMC

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was used among postpartum women delivered at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) where Edinburg Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to measure the prevalence and severity of depression. A total of 386 women were recruited and interviewed. The sample size was randomly selected from the postnatal wards.

Results: The prevalence of depression was 25.34% with middle age partners (30-40 years), been married, planned for pregnancy, monogamy type of marriage, partner and family support were found to be statistically protective for depression while previous baby loss, complications of delivery, delivered by C/S and partner violence were statistically risk factor for depression.

Conclusion: There is high prevalence of postpartum depression among women delivered at BMC in Mwanza, Tanzania which emphasizes the importance of earlier screening and detection of those at risk with intervention to reduce the burden of morbidity and disability.

Limitations: A cross sectional study was used relies on self-report of symptoms which could lead to recall bias. Despite that the study was done at the largest hospital in the lake and western zone of Tanzania which serves a diverse population still regional difference could be there.