Postpartum depression and associated factors in North West Syria

Background: This paper focuses on postpartum depression (PPD): major depression disorder that impacts women across the world, especially war affected nations. Where there is conflict, displacement, and socio-economic stress, such as in North-West Syria, PPD is still relatively unknown and studied insufficiently. Objectives: The main objectives are to measure PPD prevalence and identify contributing factors, including unintended pregnancies, socio-economic status, and displacement. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Idlib city and Atmeh displacement camps. Screening for PPD was done using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) while socio-demographic data was obtained from 397 postpartum women. Hazard analysis was also conducted to determine the odds ratio for PPD using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 397 participants were surveyed, with 79.8% residing in Atmeh and 91.7% identified as IDPs. The findings revealed a high prevalence of PPD at 59.7%, with significant associations identified between PPD and various demographic and socioeconomic factors. Notably, women aged 26–35 exhibited the highest prevalence of PPD (67.4%; p = 0.004), and those experiencing economic hardship (66.2%; p < 0.001) were at greater risk. Additionally, unintended pregnancies were strongly correlated with PPD, with 70.8% of affected women reporting depression (p = 0.001). A lack of social support during pregnancy was the most significant predictor, with an odds ratio of 8.924 (p < 0.001), indicating a nearly nine fold increase in the likelihood of PPD. These results highlight the critical role of social support, economic stability, and reproductive planning in influencing maternal mental health, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to support this vulnerable population. Conclusions The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address postpartum depression in North-West Syria, particularly among internally displaced women. Enhancing social support, addressing economic hardships, and providing mental health resources are essential for improving maternal well-being in this vulnerable population.