Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in Gaborone
Background: Untreated postpartum depression (PPD) has the potential to cause significant distress or impairment in functioning with a consequent negative impact on a developing child. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PPD and its associated factors in women attending postpartum p...
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| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-07-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2373 |
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| author | Angelina M. Mannathoko Keneilwe Molebatsi Deogratias O. Mbuka |
| author_facet | Angelina M. Mannathoko Keneilwe Molebatsi Deogratias O. Mbuka |
| author_sort | Angelina M. Mannathoko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Untreated postpartum depression (PPD) has the potential to cause significant distress or impairment in functioning with a consequent negative impact on a developing child.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PPD and its associated factors in women attending postpartum primary care clinics.
Setting: The study setting involved randomly selected three 24-h clinics in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 295 conveniently sampled postpartum mothers. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire, researcher-designed socio-demographic questions and the Oslo Social Support Scale 3 (OSSS-3) were utilised to collect data on the PPD, demographic factors and social support, respectively. Variables identified to be associated with PPD on bivariate analyses were entered into multivariate analysis to determine factors associated with PPD.
Results: The prevalence of PPD was 33.9% (95% CI 28.5% – 39.6%). Factors predictive of PPD included the history of being involved in intimate partner violence (AOR = 4.789 95% CI [2.276–10.077]), poor relationship with the partner’s mother (AOR 2.657, [1.080–6.538]), poor and moderate social support (AOR 2.685 [1.013–7.111] and AOR 5.897 [2.140–16.248]), respectively.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of PPD highlights the need for routine screening for PPD and its associated factors in antenatal and postnatal clinics. Continued practice of traditional postpartum cultural practices can be recommended as these promote social support and can potentially decrease PPD in our setting.
Contribution: This is the first study to report on the prevalence and factors associated with PPD in Botswana, thus useful in tailoring culturally appropriate interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1aa567c31934c81b1f38feab6d3d39b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1608-9685 2078-6786 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1aa567c31934c81b1f38feab6d3d39b2025-08-20T02:59:58ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862025-07-01310e1e810.4102/sajpsychiatry.v31i0.2373793Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in GaboroneAngelina M. Mannathoko0Keneilwe Molebatsi1Deogratias O. Mbuka2Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, GaboroneDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, GaboroneDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, GaboroneBackground: Untreated postpartum depression (PPD) has the potential to cause significant distress or impairment in functioning with a consequent negative impact on a developing child. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PPD and its associated factors in women attending postpartum primary care clinics. Setting: The study setting involved randomly selected three 24-h clinics in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 295 conveniently sampled postpartum mothers. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire, researcher-designed socio-demographic questions and the Oslo Social Support Scale 3 (OSSS-3) were utilised to collect data on the PPD, demographic factors and social support, respectively. Variables identified to be associated with PPD on bivariate analyses were entered into multivariate analysis to determine factors associated with PPD. Results: The prevalence of PPD was 33.9% (95% CI 28.5% – 39.6%). Factors predictive of PPD included the history of being involved in intimate partner violence (AOR = 4.789 95% CI [2.276–10.077]), poor relationship with the partner’s mother (AOR 2.657, [1.080–6.538]), poor and moderate social support (AOR 2.685 [1.013–7.111] and AOR 5.897 [2.140–16.248]), respectively. Conclusion: The high prevalence of PPD highlights the need for routine screening for PPD and its associated factors in antenatal and postnatal clinics. Continued practice of traditional postpartum cultural practices can be recommended as these promote social support and can potentially decrease PPD in our setting. Contribution: This is the first study to report on the prevalence and factors associated with PPD in Botswana, thus useful in tailoring culturally appropriate interventions.https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2373postpartum depressionmaternal mental healthbotswanarisk factorsprevalenceprotective factors |
| spellingShingle | Angelina M. Mannathoko Keneilwe Molebatsi Deogratias O. Mbuka Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in Gaborone South African Journal of Psychiatry postpartum depression maternal mental health botswana risk factors prevalence protective factors |
| title | Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in Gaborone |
| title_full | Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in Gaborone |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in Gaborone |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in Gaborone |
| title_short | Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in Gaborone |
| title_sort | prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among women attending clinics in gaborone |
| topic | postpartum depression maternal mental health botswana risk factors prevalence protective factors |
| url | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2373 |
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