Abstract
Background: Postpartum depression is a common psychiatric complication of childbearing among women. The increasing rate in addition to poor clinical diagnosis is attributable to poor health care services and inadequate medical attention. The implication is the high morbidity with adverse social and medical consequences.
Aims: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression among women
in Uyo and to determine the association between some sociodemographic variables such as parity, pattern of deliveries and postpartum depression.
Method: Three hundred and thirty five women who delivered at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital between January and March 2007
were followed up at 6 weeks. They were screened for postpartum depression, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
Results: Of the 315 women assessed, 287 (91.1%) were aged between 20- 39 years and the mean age of the women was 21.3 ± 4.7 years; 260
(82.5%) were married and 286 (90.8%) had secondary school education and above with 134 (42.5%) being employed. A total of 81(25.7%)
of them suffered from postpartum depression. There were significant associations between age (X2=8.179, df=4; P<0.05), marital status
X:=20.969,df=5;P<0.01),occupationX;=20.969,df=5; P<0.01), parity i , X:=61.494,df=5;P<0.01) and postpartum depression.
Conclusion: The results of this study reaffirm postpartum depression as a common problem confronting a number of women after delivery in our
environment. There is need for the health care providers to be aware and update their clinical skills so as to be able to detect and give adequate
attention to the women with this serious illness.

Key words: Key word Parity, pattern, delivery, postpartum depression ,women, Uyo