Gül ÇAVUŞOĞLU ÇOLAK, Kevser ARKAN, Ali Deniz ERKMEN, Esra AKDENIZ, Sultan Seren KARAKUŞ, Zehra Begüm SUCU, Sedat AKGÖL
Zeynep Kamil Medical Journal - 2026;57(1):24-31
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in mothers after normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and to identify associated risk factors. Material and Methods: Two hundred post-NVD mothers participated in this cross-sectional study. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS; cutoff >=13) and sociodemographic information were used. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was applied to assess categorical variables, while the Mann-Whitney U test and independent samples t-test were used to compare continuous variables. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of postpartum depression; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of PPD was 15% (n=30). Logistic regression revealed a significantly higher risk of PPD among mothers with comorbidities (OR=21.0), unplanned pregnancies (OR=83.5), smoking (OR=27.6), lack of a companion (OR=35.8), obstetric complications (OR=31.7), and formula use (OR=17.8) (all p<0.001). Conclusion: PPD is a significant public health concern among mothers after NVD and is strongly associated with specific risk factors. Routine PPD screening and targeted support are crucial for mothers with these risk factors.
