Exploring perinatal depression and its influencing factors: a cross-sectional study among pregnant women and mothers of children under two years in Burera district, Rwanda

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BACKGROUND: Perinatal depression is a common mental health problem, affecting about 10-15% of women during pregnancy and after childbirth. The condition leads to detrimental health impacts on mothers and their children. Despite high prevalence and impact, diagnosis of depression among pregnant women and women with young children is not done routinely in most resource-limited settings. Thus, the scope of perinatal depression remains underestimated. This study assessed perinatal depression and associated factors in pregnant women and mothers of children under 2 years old in rural Rwanda. METHODS: This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in four sectors in Burera district in Northern Rwanda. It involved all pregnant women in their second and third trimesters and mothers with children below 2 years old. A questionnaire consisting of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Household Hunger Scale, Parental Sense of Competence - Efficacy Scale, modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, and questions about intimate partner violence experience was used. Bivariate and multivariate regression models were used to identify the factors influencing depression status. RESULTS: This study surveyed 1464 participants. Perinatal depression symptoms were found in 24.5% of participants. Being single (OR 4.8; 95%CI 1.5-14.7), having more than 6 children (OR 2.1; 95%CI 1.0-4.4), experiencing verbal abuse (OR 1.47; 95%CI 1.0 -2.1), sexual abuse (OR 1.87; 95%CI 1.3-2.7) and physical abuse (OR1.5; 95%CI 1.1-2.4) from an intimate partner, and having severe household food insecurity (OR 3.0; 95%CI 1.9-4.9) were found to significantly influence the odds of having perinatal depression. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal depression is a highly prevalent and multifactorial issue in Burera district. Lack of social support, intimate partner violence, and food insecurity predispose mothers to perinatal depression. Addressing these elements is crucial for the effective prevention and management of perinatal depression.

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