Background: Depression in postpartum period is a concern due to low social support, poor marital relationship and financial strain, aim:  to assess relationship between health locus of control and risk factors for postpartum depression among primi-para mothers. subjects and method: a descriptive correlational research design was utilized. setting: the study was carried out in governmental hospital in port said city namely (port said general hospital, port fouad general hospital, and specialized obstetric hospital. subjects: convenient was sample of 95 mothers. tools: the data was collected using three tools: interview schedule questionnaire, edinburgh postnatal depression scales multidimensional health locus of control scales. results: the majority of the women tested (60.1%) were at high risk for postpartum depression. there was statistically significant relation between depression scale and age, level of education, type of family, number of room, income, husband's age, education and occupation. conclusion: most respondent's had postnatal depression. factors that were increased these problems including psychological disturbance during pregnancy, low social support, and gender of new born and low income. while receiving postnatal instruction and help giving at home from women's husbands or from their relative's decrease risk for postpartum depression. there was a positive correlation between health locus of control and risk factors for postpartum depression. recommendations: it was recommended that awareness program for nurses and women who are at risk of developing postpartum depression for helping them to cope with difficulties encountered.