title: A study of postpartum depression in a fast developing country: prevalence and related factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is a common and disabling complication of postpartum women. There is a paucity of research on postpartum depressive disorders and their predictors in women from Arab countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and identify risk factors of postpartum depression among Arab women in Qatar using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Score (EPDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted during the period from January 2010 to May 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary healthcare centers of the Supreme Council of Health, State of Qatar.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of 1669 mothers within 6 months after delivery were approached and 1379 (82.6%) mothers participated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was based on a face-to-face interview with a designed diagnostic screening questionnaire. Occurrence of postpartum depressive symptoms was assessed by the EPDS. Also, socio-demographic characteristics, medical and family history, and obstetric variables of patients were collected through a designed questionnaire. The diagnostic screening questionnaire was reviewed and calculated the final score which identified the risk cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of postpartum depression among the study sample was 17.6%. Mothers of age above 35 years (49.9% vs. 39.2%; p < 0 .001), low education below intermediate level (51% vs. 35.8%; p < 0.001), housewives (38.7% vs. 29%; p = 0.03), with low monthly income (QR 5000-9999) (43.2% vs. 32.2%; p < 0.001) were significantly at high risk for postpartum depression. Maternal complications (38.7% vs. 26.1%; p < 0.001) and caesarean section (36.2% vs. 28.8%; p = 0.022) were significantly higher among depressed mothers compared to non-depressed women. Financial difficulties (OR = 2.04; p < 0.001), prematurity (OR = 1.64; p = 0.025), poor family support (OR = 1.52; p = 0.016), dissatisfaction in marital life (OR = 1.26; p = 0.005), poor marital relationship (OR = 1.13; p = 0.05) were the main predictors of postpartum depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prevalence of postpartum depression in women living in Qatar was comparable to previous epidemiological research done in developing countries. Financial difficulties, prematurity, lack of family support, and poor marital relationships have been identified as main risk factors for developing postpartum depression.
authors.affiliation: Hamad General Hospital, University of Manchester, and Weill Cornell Medical College, Qatar. abener@hmc.org.qa
authors.forename: Abdulbari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bener
authors.forename: F Tuna
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Burgut
authors.forename: Suheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghuloum
authors.forename: Javaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheikh
mesh_terms: D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011780:Qatar; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires