Postpartum depression and its associated risk factors among tribal females attending rural health training centre.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent yet frequently unrecognized mental health condition, especially in marginalized groups such as tribal communities. Consequently, it is important to examine the prevalence and related risk factors of PPD among tribal women visiting a Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) in Central India. This cross-sectional research involved 100 tribal women who gave birth at RHTC from February to July 2024, utilizing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a structured questionnaire. The study found that 12% of women exhibited PPD (EPDS >13), with the majority of participants aged between 20 and 29 years, 45% lacking formal education and 44% involved in agriculture. Key risk factors identified included gravida, parity, the number of live children and the total number of children, while no significant links were observed with husbands' smoking, alcohol consumption, domestic violence, or the birth of a female child.