Obstetric Risk Factors for Postnatal Depression in Urban and Rural Community Samples

Abstract

The results emphasize the importance of psychosocial risk factors for postnatal depression and suggest that most obstetric factors during pregnancy and birth do not significantly increase risk for this depression. Early identification of potential risk for postnatal depression should include assessment of sociodemography, personality, psychiatric history and recent life events, as well as past and present obstetric factors.