prevalence of postpartum depression and associated factors among new mothers in neyshabur, iran during the covid-19 pandemic in 2021

Background: postpartum depression is a significant global health concern that threatens the health of the family and society. the impact of crises such as the covid-19 pandemic on this condition remains unclear. therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression and its associated factors in new mothers in neyshabur, iran, during the covid-19 pandemic.methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted on 401 postpartum women in neyshabur, iran, from january to november 2021 during the covid-19 pandemic. participants completed the edinburgh postnatal depression scale (epds), the marital satisfaction scale, the social support questionnaire, and the religiosity questionnaire 24 hours and 3 months following childbirth. data were analyzed using a repeated measures model, with a two-sided p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.results: the prevalence of depression was 3.49% at 24 hours and 19.41% at three months after childbirth. depression scores differed significantly across the two time points (p < 0.001). a linear mixed-effects model, adjusted for confounding variables, confirmed a significant difference in depression scores over time (p < 0.001). higher levels of social support, marital satisfaction, and husband's support were associated with the lower depression score (p < 0.01). additionally, women with lower incomes have been more depressed than women with enough income (p < 0.001).conclusion: higher social support, higher marital satisfaction, and higher income appear to be protective factors for maternal mental health in the postpartum period during the pandemic. policymakers and clinicians should be mindful of the increased risk of postpartum depression in the first three and implement regular screening and targeted interventions to support new mothers.