The early postpartum period especially in the presence of certain risk factors, though identified as the most vulnerable for the development of psychiatric morbidity, has not received much research attention in Nigeria. Traditional and Islamic cultures in North West Nigeria celebrate early marriage and high fertility while healthcare capacity for management of maternal morbidity and mortality including psychological complications of childbirth remains inadequate. This prospective study which examines the prevalence and demographic correlates of psychiatric disorders among puerperal women was carried out at UDUTH, Sokoto. Women initially were recruited within 3 days of delivery using a questionnaire to assess demographic, psychosocial and obstetric risk factors for psychiatric disorders in puerperium. Then 6 weeks later, they were assessed using WMH-CIDI instrument to elicit psychiatric disorders according to ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. During both periods, face-to-face interviews were used for the assessment of the respondents. Out of 288 eligible women for the study, 283 were recruited (response rate 98.3%) while 239 were assessed later (drop-out rate 15.5%). The results show a prevalence of 56.1% for psychiatric disorders, with phobia (24.7%) having the highest occurrence followed by depressive disorder (14.2%), adjustment disorder (6.3%), generalized anxiety disorder (3.8%) and manic episode (2.0%). Others are panic disorder (1.7%), mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (1.7%), mixed affective episode (1.2%), and psychosis (0.4%). Among others, the socio-demographic and obstetric predictors of psychiatric disorders among the participants were the presence of marital difficulties or early postpartum mood change (maternity blues), and absence of family or social support after first delivery.