The aim of this prospective study was to determine the relationship
between anaemia during pregnancy and postpartum depression. Two hundred
eighty-one non-anaemic mothers with singleton and low-risk pregnancy
and no history of antidepressant-use were studied. Demographic and
reproductive data at week 20 were obtained. Mothers were followed up
and haemoglobin (Hb) was checked at delivery. Iranian version of
Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed 4-6 weeks
after delivery. Mean age of the mothers was 26.6±4 years. The
prevalence of postpartum depression according to EPDS was 5.5%. Binary
logistic regression analysis showed that Hb <11 g/dL at delivery
would increase the chance of postpartum depression (OR 4.64; 95% CI
1.33-16.08). The results show that diagnosis and treatment of
physiologic factors, especially anaemia, would reduce the risk of
postpartum depression