title: Post-partum depression in a cohort of women from a rural area of Tamil Nadu, India. Incidence and risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community-based epidemiological data on post-partum depression from developing countries are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of and risk factors for developing post-partum depression in a cohort of women living in rural south India.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 359 women in the last trimester of pregnancy and 6-12 weeks after delivery for depression and for putative risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of post-partum depression was 11% (95% CI 7.1-14.9). Low income, birth of a daughter when a son was desired, relationship difficulties with mother-in-law and parents, adverse life events during pregnancy and lack of physical help were risk factors for the onset of post-partum depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression occurred as frequently during late pregnancy and after delivery as in developed countries, but there were cultural differences in risk factors. These findings have implications for policies regarding maternal and childcare programmes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: Prathap
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tharyan
authors.forename: Jayaprakash
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muliyil
authors.forename: Sulochana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors