Prevalence of Postpartum Depression Among Mothers Seeking Maternal Child Health Services in a Kericho County Hospital

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers attending the maternal child health clinic at Kericho County Referral Hospital. Postpartum depression is a significant maternal mental health problem that adversely affects both mothers and infants, leading to poor mother–infant attachment, maternal dysfunction, and negative developmental outcomes. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted, targeting 375 mothers between six and eight weeks postpartum. Participants attending the clinic were chosen using a stratified sampling method. Information was gathered through the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which evaluates symptoms like sadness, anxiety, anhedonia, and sleep disruptions. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, were used to analyse the quantitative data. Findings revealed that 85.9 per cent of the respondents were affected by postpartum depression, which is substantially greater than rates reported in other research. This highlights a significant maternal mental health challenge in the study setting. The findings indicate that postpartum depression is widespread among mothers attending the clinic, underscoring the need for immediate interventions. The study recommends incorporating routine mental health screening into maternal and child health services, along with counselling, psychoeducation, and culturally appropriate lifestyle support. Such strategies are crucial for promoting maternal well-being and improving infant health outcomes.