SEVERITY OF DEPRESSION AMONG PREPARTUM AND POSTPARTUM MOTHERS: A COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY USING THE PHQ-9 AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective:
To determine the severity of depression in prepartum and postpartum women at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
Methodology:
This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at JPMC and NICH using non-probability consecutive sampling to recruit 166 women, with 83 in each prepartum and postpartum group. Women aged 18 years or older, either pregnant or within one year postpartum, were included. Data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and depression was assessed using the PHQ-9. Data were analysed in SPSS 26 using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test at a 5% significance level.
Results:
The mean age was similar between prepartum (29.24 ± 6.40 years) and postpartum women (28.37 ± 6.45 years; p=0.386). Prepartum women had significantly higher PHQ-9 scores (11.93 ± 6.08) than postpartum women (9.57 ± 7.51; p=0.027). Depression severity differed significantly (p=0.021), with moderate to severe depression more common in prepartum women (65.4% vs. 49.4%), while postpartum women more often had no depression (33.7% vs. 12%).
Conclusion:
The study found that prepartum women experienced significantly higher depressive symptoms than postpartum women, as reflected by higher PHQ-9 scores and greater proportions of moderate to severe depression. These findings highlight the need for routine screening and timely support for women during pregnancy, when depressive symptoms appear more pronounced. Integrating structured assessments like the PHQ-9 into antenatal care may improve early identification and intervention.
Keywords:
Depression, Peripartum period, Mental health screening, Patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), Postpartum period