the prevalence and impact of postpartum depression among lactating women in erbil, iraq

Background & objective: postpartum depression (ppd) is a significant mental health issue affecting the well-being of both mother and child. despite its prevalence, ppd is often overlooked during postpartum care. this study was performed with aim to investigate the prevalence and impact of postpartum depression (ppd) among lactating women in erbil, iraqi kurdistan. materials & methods: this cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 146 primiparous lactating women who visited the maternity hospital in erbil for postnatal care services in 2022. data was collected using a questionnaire containing personal-social characteristics of the participants, obstetric history, women's health conditions during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and the current postpartum period, along with a concise checklist of ppd symptoms.results: the majority of participants aged 20-30 years (73.97%) and most were housewives (82.88%). the mean frequency of depressive symptoms increased from 2.58±1.48 times per week before pregnancy to 3.50±1.14 times per week postpartum. the most frequently reported problem was feelings of worthlessness (83.63%). logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between ppd and several factors including occupation (p=0.020, or=0.32), female education (p=0.027, or=0.63), family income (p=0.006, or=0.53), marriage type (p=0.001, or=3.29), having a separate bedroom (p=0.009, or=0.41) and bmi (p=0.001, or=1.10). conclusion: the findings underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. the healthcare providers should pay more attention to women's mental health during postpartum visits, as these symptoms can indirectly or directly affect family relationships. the results can contribute to the development of effective strategies and interventions to improve mental health support for mothers, thereby enhancing the well-being of mothers and their families.