title: Prevalence of postpartum depression in Nuuk, Greenland--a cross-sectional study using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of postnatal depression in Nuuk, Greenland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary health care system in Nuuk initiated a project aiming to screen new mothers for depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). EPDS has a range on a scale from 0 to 30. All mothers residing in Nuuk who had given birth in 2011 were included in the study group. The screening was performed by health care visitors approximately 3 months following birth. Mothers who scored 13 points or above were defined as having possible postpartum depression (PPD). These mothers were then referred to a physician. A score at or less than 8 was defined as normal, whereas an intermediate score from 9 to 12 indicated a need for an extra visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 2011, a total of 217 mothers gave birth in Nuuk. Of them, 80.2% (174) were screened for PPD using EPDS. Fifteen mothers scored 13 points or above corresponding to a prevalence of possible PPD at 8.6% (15/174). Seventy-nine percentage scored less than 9 points (137/174), whereas 15% (22/174) scored from 9 to 12 points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PPD seems to be a common problem in Nuuk, Greenland. EPDS seems to be a valuable tool in identifying women with PPD and vulnerable mothers with extra needs for support in a Greenlandic context. Continual routine screening is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Queen Ingrid Centre for Primary Health Care, Nuuk, Greenland.
authors.forename: Iben
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Motzfeldt
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andreasen
authors.forename: Amalia Lynge
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Michael Lynge
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; Inuit; postpartum depression