EFFECTIVENESS OF NURSING INTERVENTIONS IN REDUCING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AMONG MOTHERS AT LADY READING HOSPITAL – MEDICAL TEACHING INSTITUTION, PESHAWAR

Abstract

Background

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common yet underdiagnosed mental health condition affecting women during the perinatal period, particularly in resource-limited settings like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Nurses in obstetric units play a critical role in early identification and management of PPD, but structured interventions are often lacking.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of structured nursing interventions in reducing the severity of postpartum depression among mothers admitted to the postnatal ward of LRH-MTI, Peshawar, over a one-year period from January 2023 to January 2024.

Methods

A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study design was employed. A total of 75 newly delivered mothers who screened positive for PPD using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were enrolled. Structured nursing interventions including psycho-education, emotional support, mother-infant bonding facilitation, sleep hygiene counseling, relaxation techniques, and family involvement counseling were administered over a four-week period. EPDS scores were measured at baseline (pre-test) and four weeks post-intervention (post-test). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Paired sample t-test was applied to compare pre- and post-intervention EPDS scores.

Results

The mean baseline EPDS score was 16.8 (±3.2), indicating moderate to severe depression, which significantly decreased to 9.1 (±2.7) post-intervention (p < 0.001). Clinically meaningful improvement was observed in 68% of participants. Higher baseline depression scores were noted among primiparous women, those with complicated deliveries, and those with limited family support.

Conclusion

Structured nursing interventions are highly effective in reducing the severity of postpartum depression among mothers at LRH-MTI, Peshawar. Integration of standardized PPD screening and nurse-led intervention protocols into routine postnatal care is strongly recommended for all tertiary care hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa