Early postpartum mood as a risk factor for postnatal depression in Nigerian women.
OBJECTIVE
This report explored early postpartum mood changes and their correlation with postnatal depression in African women.


METHODS
Scores on the Maternity Blues Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for 478 women on the fifth day postpartum were compared with the women's Research Diagnostic Criteria diagnosis at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum.


RESULTS
The Maternity Blues Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores at day 5 postpartum were found to reliably predict the diagnosis of depression at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum.


CONCLUSIONS
African women at risk of postnatal depression can be identified in the early postnatal period by incorporating simple screening methods.
Adewuya
Abiodun O
AO
Department of Mental Health, OAUTHC, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa 233001, Osun State, Nigeria. biodunwuya@yahoo.com
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors