Prevalence and determinants of postpartum depression among postnatal clinic attendees at the Gwarinpa General Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: postpartum depression (PPD) is a major global public health concern with profound effects on maternal and child wellbeing. It remains one of the most common but under-recognised complications of childbirth, with higher prevalence in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Limited data are available on the prevalence of PPD in Nigeria, despite unique sociodemographic and psychosocial contexts. This study assessed the prevalence of PPD and its associated sociodemographic, obstetric, and psychosocial factors among pregnant women attending a 6-week postnatal clinic at the Gwarinpa General Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. METHODS: a cross-sectional study of 400 postpartum women was conducted using systematic random sampling. Data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires on sociodemographic, obstetric, and psychosocial factors. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess depressive symptoms (cut-off ≥9). Analysis employed descriptive statistics, chi-square, and logistic regression with significance at p < 0.05. RESULTS: PPD prevalence was 19.0% (76/400). Most sociodemographic and obstetric factors were not significantly associated with PPD. However, prolonged labour was a strong predictor. Women with labour lasting >12 hours had significantly higher odds of PPD (OR = 3.88, 95% CI: 1.64-9.16). CONCLUSION: postpartum depression had a prevalence of nearly one in five women in this study population, and prolonged duration of labour was significantly associated with PPD. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening intrapartum care and integrating targeted postpartum mental health screening for women who experience prolonged labour.