The impact of social support on postpartum depression in Asia: A systematic literature review

Background

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health problem. Consolidated evidence of the impact of social support on PPD has been well documented especially, in high-income countries. There is no recent comprehensively synthesized evidence of the same solely concentrated in the Asian continent.

Amis

This review aimed to identify the impact of social support on PPD in Asian countries from the current available evidence.

Methods

An electronic database search of CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, and MEDLINE from 2012 to 2022 was conducted according to the PRISMA statement through September 2022. Disease search terms included “Postpartum depression”, “postnatal depression”, “perinatal depression”, “peripartum depression”.

Results

The prevalence of PPD ranged from 3.9% in Turkey to 67.3% in Iran. The study demonstrated the importance of social support in reducing the risk of PPD, especially from partners. Immigrant women had a higher prevalence of PPD than local citizens. The study demonstrated that postpartum cultural practices buffered for PPD by giving adequate support and care. The negative sides of these practices were evident in the studies that mentioned women's relationships with their mothers-in-law.

Conclusions

The prevalence of PPD and cultural practices differ across the Asian continent. Social support, especially from close relatives is a protective factor against PPD. Health professionals should be able to provide informational support to new mothers and their families. Postpartum cultural practices can either increase or decrease PPD risk depending on whom they stay with.