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. 2002 Dec:181:499-504.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.181.6.499.

Post-partum depression in a cohort of women from a rural area of Tamil Nadu, India. Incidence and risk factors

Mani Chandran  1 , Prathap Tharyan, Jayaprakash Muliyil, Sulochana Abraham
Affiliations

Post-partum depression in a cohort of women from a rural area of Tamil Nadu, India. Incidence and risk factors

Mani Chandran et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2002 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Community-based epidemiological data on post-partum depression from developing countries are scarce.

Aims: To determine the incidence of and risk factors for developing post-partum depression in a cohort of women living in rural south India.

Method: We assessed 359 women in the last trimester of pregnancy and 6-12 weeks after delivery for depression and for putative risk factors.

Results: The incidence of post-partum depression was 11% (95% CI 7.1-14.9). Low income, birth of a daughter when a son was desired, relationship difficulties with mother-in-law and parents, adverse life events during pregnancy and lack of physical help were risk factors for the onset of post-partum depression.

Conclusions: Depression occurred as frequently during late pregnancy and after delivery as in developed countries, but there were cultural differences in risk factors. These findings have implications for policies regarding maternal and childcare programmes.

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