Postpartum depression in Covid-19 risk-stratified hospital zones: A cross-sectional study from India

VidhiChaudhary; Manju Puri; Prerna Kukreti; Viswas Chhapola; Divya Kanwar; Anujna Tumpati; Poonam Jakhar; Geetanjali Singh

doi:10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100269

Postpartum depression in Covid-19 risk-stratified hospital zones: A cross-sectional study from India

J Affect Disord Rep. 2021 Dec:6:100269. doi: 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100269. Epub 2021 Oct 27.

Authors

VidhiChaudhary¹, Manju Puri¹, Prerna Kukreti², Viswas Chhapola³, Divya Kanwar¹, Anujna Tumpati¹, Poonam Jakhar¹, Geetanjali Singh¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi 110001, India.
² Department of Psychiatry, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi 110001, India.
³ Department of Paediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi 110001, India.

Abstract

Objective: To determine point prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) and whether quarantine policies required in postpartum COVID-19 suspects increased the risk of depressive symptoms when compared COVID -19 non suspects in early postpartum period.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in the postnatal ward of Lady Hardinge Medical College and Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi from August 2020 to February 2021 using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to estimate point prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) in the stratified zones (suspect and nonsuspect) of the hospital.

Results: Total of 408 postpartum women,204 each (COVID-19 suspects, and nonsuspects zone) were enrolled. Prevalence of Postpartum depression using an EDPS score of >9 was 11.9%. Prevalence of depression (17.9%; vs 4.85%, p <0.001) and level of depression (5.01±3.41 vs 4.14± 2.54, p 0.004) was significantly higher in mothers in isolated quarantine wards of COVID-19 suspect zone as compared to nonsuspect zones. Anhedonia was reported significantly higher (p <0.001) in suspect zone mothers. Multivariate analysis showed 'stay in COVID-19 suspect zone' and 'COVID-19 Suspect status' as a significant predictor of PPD.

Conclusion: Covid -19 postpartum suspects are at increased risk of developing postpartum depressive symptoms due to isolation and quarantine measures required in suspect zones to mitigate viral transmission.Limitations - Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study long-term impacts on mental health due to isolation could not be assessed. Factors such as marital relationship, COVID -19 related risk factors weren't assessed which may have bearing on the risk of developing PPD.

Keywords: COVID 19 suspects; COVID-19 non- suspects; Depression; EDPS; EDPS, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Government of India, GOI; Isolation; MOH, Ministry of Health; PPD, postpartum depression; PPW, Postpartum women; Postpartum.