Validation of the Malay version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to determined the prevalence of postnatal depression,its risk factors and a survey of socio-cultural practices post delivery among women in District of Kota Bharu,Kelantan delivering between February to September 2000.Initially,a validation study was done involving 52 mothers who were at 4-12 week post delivery.The women completed the Malay version of EPDS and the Malay 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHO).The were they assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS).Psychiatric diagnoses were made based on ICD-10 criteria.The validity of EPDS was tested against tested clinical diagnosis and the concurrent validity against the Malay version 30-item OHQ and HDRS scores was also was evaluated.Then a longitudinal study involving four hundred and seventeen pregnant women attending primary health care facilities in Kota Bharu between February and September 2000 were screened for depression at 36-42 week of pregnancy,I week and 4-6 week postpartum using EPDS.The women were also requested to complete questionnaires on socio-demography,psychosocial support and traditional postnatal care.The best cut-ofT score of the Malay version of EPDS was 11.5 with the sensitivity of 72.7% and specificity of 92.6%. In Longitudinal study, three hundred and seventy seven women successfully completed the questionnaires and EDPS (response rate = 90.4%).The prevalence of postnatal depression at 4-6 week postpartum, based on EDPS score of 12 and above, was 20.7%. Depressive symptoms at the end of pregnancy (p