A large-scale global analysis of over 2 million women and girls has identified that the prevalence of major depression is highest at approximately two weeks after childbirth. The research, led by the University of Queensland (UQ) and published in The Lancet Psychiatry, tracked mental health from conception through the first year after birth.
Key Findings
The study synthesized data from 780 individual studies to assess the prevalence of major depression across the perinatal period.
- The global prevalence of major depression among women was found to be approximately 4.3%.
- This rate increases to 6.2% during pregnancy.
- In the year following childbirth, the prevalence rises to 6.8%.
- The highest recorded rate, 8.3%, occurs at the two-week postpartum mark.
Regional Variations
The analysis identified notable geographic differences in prevalence rates.
- The highest rates of postpartum major depression were observed in southern sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- The lowest rates were reported in high-income Asia-Pacific regions.
- In Australasia, the prevalence was slightly below the global average.
According to UQ Adjunct Research Fellow Paul Miller, a co-author of the study, differences in healthcare access, barriers to care, and cultural factors are likely contributors to these regional variations.