Insight into postpartum depression; a situational analysis among women giving birth at Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan

Background Maternal mental health, particularly postpartum depression, remains one of the most overlooked health conditions globally. The study aimed to uncover the prevalence of women suffering from postpartum depression at Juba Teaching Hospital and to investigate the associations and predictors of this condition among mothers who gave birth in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Juba Teaching Hospital. Method This was a cross-sectional study conducted between January and June 2023 among postpartum women who gave birth at Juba Teaching Hospital. A total of 160 postpartum women were enrolled in the study using a randomized systematic method. Following delivery and prior to discharge, sociodemographic and obstetric data were collected. Then participants were requested to provide their phone contacts, which were used to contact them and organize a home visit to complete the interview six weeks from the time of the delivery. Chi- square was applied to suggest the associated factors, while regression was used to determine PPD predictors. To obtain PPD prevalence, questions on EPDS were coded at 13 points/below or above 13 points based on the answers provided by the study participants. Those who scored at 13 points or below on the EPDS scale were considered not to be suffering from PPD, in contrast to those above 13 points who were considered to have PPD. Results The majority of the postpartum women (54.4%) recruited for this study were aged between 25 and 45 years, and 81.9% were married and possessed at least a primary or secondary level of education. About 9% (14 out of 160) fell above the threshold of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), indicating the prevalence of postpartum depression among women in this study. Using a chi-square test, it was found that women below 18 years of age were significantly associated with PPD (X²=7.095, P = 0.029); also, single or cohabitant mothers (X²=12.772, P = 0.002); women with no formal education (X²=9.706, P = 0.008); and those with inadequate financial support, among others, were all associated with PPD. While maternal age, financial support, partner support, and preferences regarding pregnancy and infant sex are predictors of the likelihood of experiencing PPD. Conclusion The prevalence of PPD identified in this study (9%) highlights and raises concerns about the overlooked maternal mental health in South Sudan. Despite the challenging circumstances faced by many partners, offering emotional support to women during pregnancy and the postpartum period could help prevent unnecessary PPD from developing among postpartum women. The study recommends the necessity of scaling up maternal mental health support across the country, alongside empowering women through education and employment to alleviate their financial dependency. The study also recommends scaling up of the postpartum depression screening across the country using the EPDS tool, and subsequent establishment of clinical centers for mental support in the main state hospitals.