Abstract:

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental health condition that can affect a mother's motivation, confidence, and ability to sustain breastfeeding practices. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of PPD among mothers attending a postnatal clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and to examine the association between breastfeeding intention and PPD. A total of 149 postpartum women were recruited using systematic sampling. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The prevalence of PPD (EPDS ≥10) was found to be 6.7%. The majority of women (90.6%) expressed a strong intention to breastfeed. No significant association was observed between breastfeeding intention and PPD (p=0.599). However, marital status (p=0.023), average monthly income (p=0.044), and complications during the most recent pregnancy (p=0.037) showed significant associations with PPD. Women who were cohabiting, earning between ₦70,000 and ₦150,000, and those who experienced pregnancy complications had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychosocial and obstetric risk assessment into postnatal care and the need for further research to understand how social factors, economic pressures, and pregnancy experiences shape maternal mental health in the postpartum period.

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