Global Study Finds Peripartum Depression Peaks in First Weeks After Birth

A massive global review of more than two million women finds that peripartum depression remains elevated throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period, peaking in the first two weeks after birth.

Researchers analyzed data from 780 studies across 90 countries. After adjusting for measurement bias, the overall prevalence of major depressive disorder was 6.2% during pregnancy and 6.8% during the postpartum year. The highest rates were found in Southern sub-Saharan Africa, between 15.6% and 16.6%, while high-income Asia Pacific regions reported the lowest, at 3.1% to 3.3%.

The study's authors emphasize that peripartum depression is a persistent risk, not just a short-term postpartum complication, and call for integrating screening and treatment into routine maternal healthcare worldwide.