Thestudy of postpartum depression and related factors: 4.5 months

One of the mental disorders in pregnancy and the period after it, is postpartum depression which can be a threat for security and health of mother and infant. With regard to this matter the study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of postpartum depression and related factors. This research is a descriptive-analytical study which was conducted in gynecology and obstetric department in Imam Ali Hospital in Zahedan city, Southeast of Iran. The participants were 300 women selected randomly and were evaluated four times (immediately after delivery, 4 weeks after the first assessment, 6 weeks after the second assessment and 8 weeks after the third assessment) with Beck Depression Inventory and demographic questionnaire. Mother under treatment for psychological problem, mother whose babies present serious health problem, BDI score less than 14 and mothers don’t have number for calling was excluded from the study. The data was analyzed by SPSS. In this study 33.7% were depressed and it was observed that there was a significant relation between the mother age, kind of delivery, infant’s gender, mother’ education, history of previous depression and psychotropic drugs using (P<0.05). Postpartum depression is relativelyfrequent. Adjustment of any of factors which have role in this disorder, can be useful in decreasing the postpartum depression.