The neglected spectrum of COVID-19 pandemic - postpartum depression among COVID-19 infected South-Indian women – a cohort study

The study aims to explore the burden of postpartum depression among COVID-19-infected mothers and stressor factors. A single-centre observational cohort study was conducted in South India to evaluate postpartum depression among 106 COVID-19-infected women who delivered from December 2020 to May 2021. Also, stressor factors related to COVID-19 infection were figured out to analyse their role in depression. Almost half of the COVID-19-infected mothers had a global EPDS score ≥ 10 and were at risk of depression during the pandemic. The depressive symptoms were not confined to the immediate postpartum period, but significantly impacted mothers until 6 months following childbirth. SYNOPSIS: COVID-19 infection not only affects the physical well-being but also adversely affects the mental health of the infected persons. Postpartum mothers who require the utmost care and support, are facing social deprivation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This triggers the already fragile mental state of postpartum women and may worsen the level of depression.