Early postpartum mood as a risk factor for postnatal depression in Nigerian women.

Abstract

This report explored early postpartum mood changes and their correlation with postnatal depression in African women. Scores on the Maternity Blues Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for 478 women on the fifth day postpartum were compared with the women's Research Diagnostic Criteria diagnosis at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. The Maternity Blues Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores at day 5 postpartum were found to reliably predict the diagnosis of depression at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. African women at risk of postnatal depression can be identified in the early postnatal period by incorporating simple screening methods.