The Validation of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) in North Central Nigeria.

More than ten (10) percent of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression and out of this number; more than fifty percent go undiagnosed. With the attendant consequences on the new mother, the new infant, the family and the society at large, it is expedient that more efforts should be geared towards its prevention. The use of a screening instrument, easy and fast to administer is therefore necessary. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, widely used in United Kingdom and other advanced countries of the world, needs to be validated for use in our own environment. Two hundred and fifty-six (256) new mothers who delivered at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos in Plateau State of Nigeria were assessed six (6) weeks postpartum between the 4th of September and the 30th of November, 2002. A 2-stage design process was used. All high scorers and a randomly selected number of low scorers on EPDS were clinically assessed for depression using DSM IV Research Diagnostic Criteria. Validity coefficients were calculated and a Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was used to determine the best cut-off point. An EPDS value of seven (7), with a sensitivity and specificity of 68% and 75% respectively, was found to correspond with the best cut-off point for postpartum depression in the study sample. EPDS can be used as a fast screening instrument for postpartum depression and a score equal to or greater than seven (7) is suggestive of postpartum depression. These ones can then be sent for clinical assessment and possible management by the psychiatrists. Keywords: Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale Validation, Postpartum depression, 2-stage design, Receiver operating Characteristic curve. Journal of Medicine in the Tropics Vol. 9 (2) 2007 pp. 29-40