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Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of prenatal depression and investigate its associated socioeconomic,
demographic, physical, and psychological characteristics among pregnant women in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study on prenatal depression was conducted from October 2024 to March
2025 in Rawalpindi tertiary care hospitals. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with a cutoff of
11 was used to measure depression. Chi-square test was employed to identify significant associations (p < 0.05) between prenatal depression and various characteristics on SPSS 27.
Results: This study of 350 pregnant women in Rawalpindi found a high prevalence of prenatal depression
(56.3% with a mean EPDS score of 11.61). Significant associations with depression (p < 0.05) included
respondents' employment status (housewives higher), lower monthly income, husband's employment type (non-business higher), having children with special needs, experiencing husband's violence, feeling sad about the pregnancy, and experiencing pressure for a baby boy.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study reveals that prenatal depression is linked to socioeconomic disadvantages (unemployment, lower income, husband's occupation), negative social experiences (husband's violence, pressure for a boy, negative attitudes), and pregnancy-related factors (having a child with special needs, negative feelings about the pregnancy).
Keywords: Depression, Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, Maternal Health, Social Support