A LARGE global review of more than two million women and girls has found that peripartum depression remains elevated throughout pregnancy and postpartum, peaking in the weeks after birth.
Regional Differences in Peripartum Depression Burden
Major depressive disorder during the peripartum period is associated with significant maternal and infant health consequences, yet global prevalence estimates have varied widely because of differing diagnostic methods and study designs. Therefore, researchers conducted a large systematic review to clarify patterns of peripartum depression across pregnancy and the postpartum period and to assess geographical variation worldwide.
Global Meta-Regression Across 90 Countries
This systematic review and meta-regression analysed studies published between January 1980 and October 2025. Investigators searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and grey literature sources for cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys evaluating major depressive disorder during pregnancy and up to 12 months postpartum among females aged 10 to 59 years. Depression diagnoses were based on DSM or ICD criteria. Of 31,812 potentially eligible studies, 25,616 titles and abstracts were screened and 1,025 studies entered qualitative synthesis. Stage two analysis included 1,505 prevalence datapoints from 780 studies representing 2,018,198 women and girls across 90 countries and 19 world regions.
Postpartum Period Showed Highest Depression Prevalence
The data revealed that symptom scales overestimated peripartum depression prevalence compared with diagnostic interviews, ranging from 71.3% overestimation (95% uncertainty interval 54.3 to 89.8) using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale postpartum to 121.9% (95% uncertainty interval 91.7 to 156.8) using the Patient Health Questionnaire during pregnancy. Peripartum depression prevalence was highest during the first two weeks postpartum (p<0.0001) and remained significantly elevated throughout the postpartum year compared with pregnancy (p<0.0001). After adjustment for measurement bias and timing, overall prevalence was 6.2% (95% uncertainty interval 5.9 to 6.6) during pregnancy and 6.8% (95% uncertainty interval 6.4 to 7.1) during the postpartum year. Southern sub-Saharan Africa showed the highest prevalence, ranging from 15.6% to 16.6%, while high-income Asia Pacific regions reported the lowest prevalence, ranging from 3.1% to 3.3%.
Implications for Maternal Mental Health Services
The researchers concluded that peripartum depression should be recognised as a persistent risk throughout pregnancy and the postpartum year rather than a short-term postpartum complication alone. They highlighted the importance of integrating screening, prevention, and treatment strategies into routine maternal healthcare pathways worldwide.
Reference
Ferrari AJ et al. The global prevalence of major depressive disorder during the peripartum period: a systematic review and meta-regression. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2026;DOI:10.1016/S2215-0366(26)00085-4.
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