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Cited by 776Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumMaternal and Neonatal HealthcareMaternal and Perinatal Health Interventions

Cross-cultural and social diversity of prevalence of postpartum depression and depressive symptoms

Halbreich, Uriel, Karkun, Sandhya·2006·Journal of Affective Disorders
DOI 10.1016/j.jad.2005.12.051
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Abstract

Background The prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) is currently considered to be 10-15%. Most studies were performed with a brief unidimensional instruments (mostly the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-EPDS) with focus on depression and not on other symptoms and disorders. Most cited studies were conducted in Western economically developed countries.Methods We reviewed the literature on prevalence of postpartum depression and depressive symptoms in a wide range of countries.Results 143 studies were identified reporting prevalence in 40 countries. It is demonstrated that there is a wide range of reported prevalence of PPD ranging from almost 0% to almost 60%. In some countries like Singapore, Malta, Malaysia, Austria and Denmark there are very few reports of PPD or postpartum depressive symptoms, whereas in other countries (e.g. Brazil, Guyana, Costa Rica, Italy, Chile, South Africa, Taiwan and Korea) reported postpartum depressive symptoms are very prevalent.Conclusions We believe that the widely cited mean prevalence of PPD-10-15% is not representative of the actual global prevalence and magnitude of the problem, due to the wide range of reports. The variability in reported PPD might be due to cross-cultural variables, reporting style, differences in perception of mental health and its stigma, differences in socio-economic environments (e.g. poverty, levels of social support or its perception, nutrition, stress), and biological vulnerability factors. The elucidation of the underlying processes of this variability as well as the diversity of postpartum normal versus abnormal expressions of symptoms may contribute to better understanding of the diversified ante, peri- and postpartum phenomena.

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Authors
Halbreich, U., & Karkun, S.
Affiliations
University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
Corresponding author
Halbreich, Uriel
ORCID
Halbreich, Uriel
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2006-04
Volume
91
Issue
2-3
Pages
97-111
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jad.2005.12.051
OpenAlex
W2127916329
Cited by
776
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 37
FWCI
2.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
Keywords
postpartum depression, depressive symptoms, prevalence, cross-cultural variation, social diversity, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, mental health stigma, social support, socioeconomic factors, biological vulnerability
MeSH terms
Cross-Cultural Comparison, Depression, Female, Humans, Social Behavior, Prevalence, Cultural Diversity, Depression, Postpartum

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