الفهرس 
Definition and diagnosis of postnatal depressionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: Postnatal depression (PND) represents a considerable health problem affecting women and their families. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of postnatal depression among postpartum women attending Al- Mostkbal primary health care unit in Al-Obour city and identify risk factors associated with post-natal depression. Methods: A cross section study was conducted including 225 postpartum women selected from Al- Mostakbal primary health care centre in the postpartum period (two weeks up to 12 months after labor). They were subjected to two forms of questionnaires (1) Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (2) An interview questionnaire to collect data about (socio-demographic variables, reproductive history, past history and family history of depression, husband support during and after labour and identifying stressful life events during or after labour) as possible risk factors of postnatal depressive symptoms. Results: The mean age of studied women was 30.9 years± 6.09. Prevalence of postnatal depression symptoms was found to be 37.78 % according to EPDS using a cutoff point >12. These symptoms are significantly higher in the 1ST6 months than the 2nd 6 months after delivery (P<0.001). Mothers who had NICU admission, hospitalization for her newborn, annoyed from weight gain after labour, lack of husband support during or after pregnancy, twins’ newborn and a prior diagnosis of depression were the significant variables associated with PND symptoms. However, pregnancy loss, low birth weight child, newborn with congenital anomalies, delivery by caesarian section and lactation type had no significant association with PND. Conclusion: Many factors may lead to development of PND. These factors include some socio-demographic, obstetric, and psychosocial. Early detection of these factors could help in prediction of the development of PND which is the role of family physician in screening for early detection.
Keywords: postpartum, depression, family physician, primary health care.