Abstract:
Back ground: Maternal Post partum depression (PPD), also known as postnatal depression (PND) is a
type of depression that affects some women after having a baby. Typically it develops within four to six
weeks after giving birth, but sometimes takes several months to appear. Usually there is no clear reason
for the depression.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess prevalence and associated factors of Maternal
postnatal depression within a year of child birth in the Loma district, Dawuro zone, Southern Nations,
Nationalities, and Peoples Region.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 441 postnatal
women from April 8-15, 2014. Data were collected by face to face interview by using semi structured
questionnaire. Women who has scored greater than or equal to 3 for WHO Self reporting questionnaire
was considered as having postnatal depression. To identify independent predictors of postnatal
depression, multivariate logistic regression was used.
Results: A total of 441 postnatal mothers were screened for PPD by using WHO SRQ 20. Ninety five
mothers scored >=3 points corresponding to a prevalence of possible PPD at 21.5% (95/441). In
multivariate analysis post natal women whose husband has polygamy marriage were 67% more likely to
develop PND than whose husband has monogamy marriage type, AOR=0.3331; 95CI(0.174-0.638), a
Postnatal woman whose husband uses substance were 65% more likely to develop PND than whose
husband doesn’t use substance, AOR=1 .653; 95CI( 1.532-4.635), a woman who has history of IPV
during the last 12 months were 1.852 times more likely to develop PPD than non violated woman,
AOR=1.852;95CI(1.113-3.08), food insecured women were 45% more likely to develop maternal PND
than food secured women, AOR=0.551;95%CI(0.333-0.912),a women with unplanned last birth were
2.645times more likely to develop maternal PND than a women whose last pregnancy were planned
AOR=2.645;95%;CI (1.58-4.43),also a women whose last birth were for the first time were2.781 times
more likely to develop PND than a women whose last delivery were two and
above,AOR=2.781;95%C(1.48-5.23).
Conclusion and Recommendation: PPD a common maternal health problem in Dawuro zone Loma
District, thus strengthening of early screening, providing treatment and strengthing of referral system of
postnatal mothers who had developed depression is important to reduce its prevalence.Woreda health
office should Provide integrated preventive activities with stake holders especially Women youth and
children affair office, and A griculture office to reduce the risk factors to maternal postnatal depression.
