Etiology and incidence of postpartum depression among birthing women in the scenario of pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and natural disasters: a systematic review

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is classified under postpartum psychiatric disorders and initiates soon after birthing, eliciting neuropsychological and behavioral deficits in mothers and offspring. Globally, PPD is estimated to be associated with 130–190 per 1000 birthing. The severity and incidences of PPD have aggravated in the recent years due to the several unfavorable environmental and geopolitical circumstances. The purpose of this systematic review hence is to explore the contributions of recent circumstances on the pathogenesis and incidence of PPD. The search, selection and retrieval of the articles published during the last three years were systematically performed. The results from the primary studies indicate that unfavorable contemporary socio-geopolitical and environmental circumstances (e.g. Covid-19 pandemic, political conflicts/wars, and natural calamities; such as floods and earthquakes) detrimentally affect PPD etiology. A combination of socio-economic and psychological factors, including perceived lack of support and anxiousness about the future may contribute to drastic aggravation of PPD incidences. Finally, we outline some of the potential treatment regimens (e.g. inter-personal psycho- and art-based therapies) that may prove to be effective in amelioration of PPD-linked symptoms in birthing women, either alone or in complementation with traditional pharmacological interventions. We propose these psychological and art-based intervention strategies may beneficially counteract the negative influences of the unfortunate recent events across multiple cultures, societies and geographical regions.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• military conflicts
• natural calamities
• migration
• psychotherapy
• art therapy
• postpartum depression

Authors’ contributions

Made substantial contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data: LP, SS, AA, SSR, DMM, SH, MT, FA; involved in drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content: LP, SS, AA, SSR, DMM, SH, MT, FA; given final approval of the version to be published. Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content: LP, SS, AA, SSR, DMM, SH, MT, FA; Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved: LP, SS, AA, SSR, DMM, SH, MT, FA.

Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the Project Number ISP23-101.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Submission declaration and verification

This work has not been previously published and it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, including electronically without the written consent of the copyright-holder.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia - Project Number: ISP23-101.