Developing a culture-specific tool to assess postnatal depression in the Indian community

Abstract

Postnatal depression is a serious and debilitating condition which affects, at a conservative estimate, 10% of postnatal mothers. It can be difficult to identify due to the reluctance of some women to acknowledge their feelings. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was developed to facilitate the elicitation of negative mood, however, it does not translate adequately into other languages or cultures. To address this problem the dosha assessment tool for postnatal depression was developed. This tool is aimed at women who are more familiar with the concepts of Ayurvedic medicine, one of the key medical systems of the Indian subcontinent. Although not yet evaluated, the tool goes some way towards the development of a culturally specific screening tool for this condition.