Abstract
Introduction: There is a lack of information on paternal postnatal depression in developing countries such as Nigeria.
Methods: This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression in fathers at the birth of their infants and the incidence of paternal postnatal depression at 6 weeks postpartum. We also examined the correlation between paternal postpartum depression (PPD) at 6 weeks and maternal PPD as well as the sociodemographic and other correlates of paternal PPD at 6 weeks.
Results: All the 331 fathers recruited at baseline completed the study. Prevalence of depression in fathers at birth of their babies was 10 (3%). After excluding the 3%, the incidence of PPD in fathers (N = 321) at 6 weeks was 19 (5.9%). In all, 29 (8.8%) fathers had PPD. The prevalence of depression in mothers at 6 weeks postpartum was 57 (17.8%). The prevalence of depression in mothers at 6 weeks was significantly higher than the incidence of depression in fathers at 6 weeks (X2 = 26.2, p < .001). There was no significant correlation between maternal PPD and paternal PPD. At baseline, prevalence of PPD among the unemployed fathers was higher than in the employed, 3 (21.4%) versus 7 (2.2%), this was significant (FE p < .01). There was no significant correlate of paternal PPD at 6 weeks.
Discussion: Postpartum mental health services should be extended to fathers of newborns especially those who are unemployed. Our findings have implications for family health.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Funding
No specific funding.
Paternal postpartum depression is prevalent.
Paternal postpartum depression has a correlation with maternal postpartum depression.
Risk factors for paternal postpartum depression include lower social class and unemployment, previous history of depression and having a partner with depressive symptoms.
What is known
Paternal postpartum depression was not correlated with maternal postpartum depression.
Incidence of paternal PPD at 6 weeks was not also associated with any paternal or maternal factor at birth or at 6 weeks.
Incidence of paternal postpartum depression was not associated with maternal, paternal sociodemographic characteristics, infant or obstetrics characteristics.