OjokArach , Anna Agnes .Nakasujja ,NoelineNankabirwa, VictoriaNdeezi , GraceKigule, Juliet .Mukunya , DavidJustinOdongkara , BeatriceTylleskar , ThorkildAchora , VincentinaTongun , Bruno JustinWamboko Musaba , MiltonTumwine , JamesK.Napyo, AgnesZalwango , VivianTylleskar , ThorkildTumwine ,K. James2026-07-012026-07-012020-10-10Arach, A. A. O., Nakasujja, N., Nankabirwa, V., Ndeezi, G., Kiguli, J., Mukunya, D., ... & Tumwine, J. K. (2020). Perinatal death triples the prevalence of postpartum depression among women in Northern Uganda: A community-based cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 15(10), e0240409.https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240409http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14270/869Abstract Introduction Deaths during the perinatal period remain a big challenge in Africa, with 38 deaths per 1000 pregnancies in Uganda. The consequences of these deaths can be detrimental to the women; some ending up with postpartum depression. We examined the association between perinatal death and postpartum depression among women in Lira district, Northern Uganda. Methods We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study of 1,789 women. Trained research assistants screened women for postpartum depressive symptoms on day 50 postpartum using the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS). Socio-demographic, economic, birth and survival status of the neonate were collected during pregnancy and within one week postpartum. We used generalized estimating equation for the Poisson family with a log link using Stata to estimate the prevalence ratio of the association between postpartum depressive symptoms (EPDS scores ≥14) and perinatal death. Mothers who lost their babies between 7–49 days postpartum were excluded. Results Of the 1,789 participants symptomatically screened for postpartum depression, 377 (21.1%) [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 17.2%, 23.0%] had probable depressive symptoms. The prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms among the 77 women who had experienced perinatal death (37 stillbirths and 40 early neonatal deaths (≤7 days of life)) was 62.3% [95% CI: 50.8%, 72.6%] compared to 19.2% [95% CI: 17.4%, 21.2%], among 1,712 with live infants at day 50 postpartum. Women who had experienced a perinatal death were three times as likely to have postpartum depressive symptoms as those who had a live birth [adjusted prevalence ratio 3.45 (95% CI: 2.67, 4.48)]. Conclusions The prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms, assessed by EPDS, was high among women who had had a perinatal death in Northern Uganda. Women experiencing a perinatal death need to be screened for postpartum depressive symptoms in order to intervene and reduce associated morbidity.enDepressionBirthPregnancyUgandaInfantsHealth care facilitiesNeonatesMothers