Postpartum Depression in Females Presenting with Poor Sleep Quality During Third Trimester of Pregnancy
Keywords:
Depression, Maternal Health, Pregnancy, Sleep Quality, Third Trimeste.Abstract
Objective: To assess the frequency of postpartum depression in females presenting with suboptimal sleep quality in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Study Design: It was an Analytical Prospective study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Imran Idrees Teaching Hospital, Sialkot. Duration of study was 10 months from 28th February 2024 to 15th December 2024.
Materials and Methods: A total of 200 females meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled through nonprobability consecutive sampling. Women aged 18–40 years with gestational age ≥34 weeks and poor sleep quality were included, while those with multiple fetuses, systemic diseases (e.g., pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, renal or liver disease, and anemia) were excluded. After delivery, participants were followed for one month and evaluated for postpartum depression with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) by a consultant psychiatrist at Imran Idrees Teaching Hospital, Sialkot. Data were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 23, with Chi-square applied for stratified analysis.
Results: Mean maternal age was 28.7 ± 6.7 years, mean gestation age 37.8 ± 1.8 weeks. Sleep disturbance was pervasive (PSQI 13.3 ± 4.4 > cut-off 5), and 56 of 200 mothers (28 %) screened positive for postpartum depression (PPD). PPD prevalence did not differ by age group (<30 vs >30 y, p = 0.653), parity (p = 0.271), or delivery mode (p = 0.280) thus, poor sleep quality, rather than obstetric factors, was the key correlate of PPD.
Conclusion: The frequency of postpartum depression was high in females presenting with poor sleep quality during third trimester of pregnancy.
