Abstract: Background: Depression is the most common illness worldwide and the leading cause of disability. They estimate that 350 million people are affected by depression. It is predicted that depression will be the second leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020. The prevalence is 9% and average age of onset of depression is 31.9 years in Nepal. The present study was conducted to assess depression among females.
Materials & Methods: This study was conducted in the department of Gynaecology and Obstectrics in year 2014. It consisted of 2210 females. All were informed regarding the study and written consent was obtained. Ethical clearance was taken prior to the study. Women at high risk of depression due to gynaecological conditions, teenage girls, women with no living issue, antenatal cases, delivered patients and perimenopausal women were included. DSM-IV criteria was used to diagnose depression.
Results: Teenagers were 210, women with no living issue were 170, pregnant women were 1620, post partum women were 120 and peri - menopausal women were 90 in number. The difference was significant (P<0.05). Patients with late menarche, STIs and HIV, PCOD and obesity had 12, 11 and 80 depressed women. Depression was seen in women with primary infertility (52/80), secondary infertility (16/30) and recurrent pregnancy loss (32/60). Out of 1620 pregnant women, 812 had depression. Out of 120 post partum women, 55 had depression. Out of 40 malignancy women, 40 had depression, out of 30 abnormal uterine bleeding, 18 had depression and out of 20 women with gynaecological disorder, 8 had depression.
Conclusion: Depression is common among females and it is more prevalent in pregnancy. Early detection and intervention is necessary to avoid effect on baby.