A Study on Postpartum Depression and its Association with Infant Feeding Practices and Infant Nutritional Status among Mothers Attending the Anganwadi Centers of Valsad District, Gujarat, India

BACKGROUND: Systematic reviews on postpartum depression (PPD) suggest that PPD mothers are more likely to interrupt exclusive breastfeeding with inappropriate feeding practices resulting malnutrition in child. A community-based study was planned with the objective to find the risk factors associated with PPD and its possible association on infant feeding practices and infant nutritional status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 116 postpartum mothers attending Anganwadi centers under the Urban Health Training Centre and Rural Health Training Centre of Medical College. A purposive sampling technique was applied. Informed and written consent in local language was taken. Data were collected in predesigned, pretested, and semi-structured pro forma. The mothers were screened for possible PPD using the 10-item well-validated Edinburgh PPD Scale in Gujarati language. The cutoff point is score more than 10.5 based on previous studies. Infant's nutritional status and breastfeeding practices were assessed according to the WHO Growth Chart and Infant and Young Child Feeding guidelines. RESULTS: (1) 6.8% of the prevalence of PPD was reported in the study; (2) sociodemographic factors such as relationship of mothers with in-laws/husbands, help at home in childcare, literacy status, age at marriage and first child, and own desired/in-laws of sex of child are found to be significantly associated with PPD. (3) The Association of PPD and poor nutritional status of child was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the need of screening for PPD in the community. The potential risk factors for PPD can be taken into consideration during routine antenatal/postnatal care and for planning of preventive strategies.