Background: Postpartum depression is defined as a major depressive episode that occurs within four weeks after delivery. However, investigators describe a dramatic increase in the incidence of mood disorders after childbirth with the largest risk during 90 days after delivery. We aimed to study the risk factors of postpartum depression in women living in rural areas of Isfahan Province in Iran.
Methods: We assessed 6627 women, two to 12 months after delivery, for depression and putative risk factors.
Results: Unemployment, low education, mothers' young age, undesired gender of the child, unplanned pregnancy, and history of depression were the main risk factors of postpartum depression. History of depression, low education, primiparity, unplanned pregnancy, and undesired gender of the child had the highest risk score for postpartum depression in this group of Iranian women.
Conclusion: Risk factors of postpartum depression in Isfahan Province were very similar to other studies, but the negative impact of low level of education, unplanned pregnancy, and undesired gender of the child on postnatal depression seems to be characteristic of this population.