Perinatal depression among teenage mothers in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Nepal: A cross-sectional study

The teenage pregnancy has serious adverse effect on physical and mental health of mothers and infants. This cross-sectional study was aimed to assess proportion of perinatal depression and well-being of teenage mothers in Nepal. Perinatal women were evaluated using Mental Health Continuum Short Form, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Of 239 perinatal women, 12 (5%) were teenage with a mean age of 18.17 +/- 0.93 years. 33.3% (n = 4) of teenage mothers had depressive symptoms, and 25% (n = 3) had moderate/languishing mental health. A high proportion of depression and poor mental health suggests that screening and supportive care should be provided for teenage mothers.