The 12-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in postpartum women is about 25%, and their three-month prevalence in Hong Kong is 13.5%. Studies carried out in Western countries and in Taiwan and Hong Kong have consistently reported that 10-15% of women suffer from postnatal depression (PND). PND inflicts great suffering on mothers and their families. It disturbs family relationships and disrupts mother-child bonding. Maternal depression, stress, and anxiety lead to poor neurodevelopment in infants 7 and increase the risk of psychiatric illness in children. Limited information is available on the long-term outcomes of postpartum psychiatric disorders. Western studies have shown that up to 24% of women with PND remain depressed one year after delivery. Of 129 Pakistani women identified as having antenatal depression, 80 (62%) were still depressed 12 months after delivery.
Screening for Psychiatric Morbidity in the Postpartum Period: Clinical Presentation and Outcome at One-Year Follow-Up
Last date updated on January, 2025