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Cross-cultural and social diversity of prevalence of postpartum depression and depressive symptoms
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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“The prevalence of maternal depression therefore depends on the definition and/or the tool used to diagnose PPD.3,6–8”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [7]
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Metadata
- 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)
- 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
- 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 › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › 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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