Caesarean Delivery and Postnatal Depression in a Tertiary Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Background: Postnatal depression is one of the most devastating of the mental disorders affecting women six weeks postpartum, accounting for more than 20% of maternal deaths after childbirth. It is said that young children of mothers with postnatal depression have greater behavioural problems than those of non- depressed mothers. Mode of delivery with other risk factors has been implicated as a predictive factor and caesarean section in any form is said to be most implicated. This study intends to contribute to the raging arguments on the relationship between caesarean section and postnatal depression.

Objective: To examine the relationship between caesarean sections and postnatal depression.

Methods: Women visiting the postnatal clinic six weeks postpartum who consented to the study, where interviewed and screened for depression using the study designed questionnaire and the Edinburg postnatal depressive scale (EPDS). Data obtained were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23.0, p values <0.05 were statistically significant.

Results: Out of 405 women who participated in the study, 135 (33.3%) had an EPDS score of > 12 points. Among the risk factors isolated which included co-habiting, death of children, children challenges and partner violence, caesarean section showed a very strong association p=0.001, OR 1.68, 95% cl=1.10-2.58. Emergency caesarean section showed a stronger association p=0.001, OR 3.6, 95%cl=2.35-5.69.

Conclusion: Emergency caesarean section has a strong significant impact on the development of postnatal depression.