1. Introduction
The postpartum period or the puerperium is defined as
the period ‘‘encompassing the first few weeks following birth’’.1 This definition of the postpartum period has long guided services and research towards a restrictive approach to postpartum health focusing on problems related to the reproductive organs and neglecting other aspects of women’s physical and psychosocial health in addition to limiting the time
period for postpartum recovery. In fact, WHO defines postpar - tum maternal morbidity as morbidity occuring within the first six weeks of giving birth. 2 There is relatively limited number of studies, mainly from high income countries,a addressing the full range of postpartum health problems faced by women. The postpartum period remains vastly under-researched in low and middle income countries.a The very few studies from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India 3–5 indicate to a heavy burden of vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, low abdominal pain, fever, perineum pain and excessive weakness. The only study conducted in Lebanon on the prevalence of postpartum depression, reports a proportion of 21.2% of depres - sion and 12.8% of reported urinary tract infections, three to five months postpartum.6 Despite these limited findings, research in this area reveals the high burden of ill health during the postpartum period.