Background:Postpartum depression(PPD) is a mood disorder that begins after childbirth and usually lasts beyond six weeks; depression is often comorbid with anxiety.
Objectives: To measure the prevalence of postpartum depression and/or anxiety among females in Qaliubeya governorate , to explore the underlying factors of these disorders, and find if progesterone level has a role.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted upon 500 post partum females attending primary health care facilities in Qaliubeya governorate. Data were collected by an interview questionnaire which included data about socio-demographic, obstetric and past hstory and the Arabic version of DASS for assessment postpartum depression and/or anxiety.
Results: 1.6% of the studied females suffered postpartum depression alone, 10% suffered from anxiety alone, 21.2% suffered from both. The mean age of female who suffered from comorbid depression and anxiety was significantly (p=0.01) higher than the normal group (26.9 and 25.1 respectively), they had a significantly lower socio-economic score than the normal ones (31.1 and 34.1 respectively), p