SynthesisPloS one2020
Epidemiology of postnatal depression and its associated factors in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 60 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
60 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 112 citations in OpenAlex.
- Early motherhood, early burden: depression among teenage pregnancy and early motherhood in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Pooled it
- Prevalence of perinatal depression in Ethiopia: An umbrella review of systematic review and meta-analysis studies.PloS one · 2026Pooled it
- Comparison of the prevalence of probably postpartum depression before and during the covid-19 pandemic in Turkey: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2025Pooled it
- Social support as a coping resource for psychosocial conditions in postpartum period: a systematic review and logic framework.BMC psychology · 2024Pooled it
- Tools for screening maternal mental health conditions in primary care settings in sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review.Frontiers in public health · 2024Pooled it
- Prevalence of Postpartum Depression Based on Diagnostic Interviews: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Depression and anxiety · 2023Pooled it
- Family History of Psychiatric Disorders as a Risk Factor for Maternal Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA psychiatry · 2022Pooled it
- Effect of postpartum depression on exclusive breast-feeding practices in sub-Saharan Africa countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2021Pooled it
- Comparing depression screening tools (CESD-10, EPDS, PHQ-9, and PHQ-2) for diagnostic performance and epidemiologic associations among postpartum Kenyan women: Implications for research and practice.Journal of affective disorders · 2023Trial
- Interpersonal therapy versus antidepressant medication for treatment of postpartum depression and anxiety among women with HIV in Zambia: a randomized feasibility trial.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2022Trial
- Determining factors for the prevalence of depressive symptoms among postpartum mothers in lowland region in southern Nepal.PloS one · 2021Trial
- Psychosocial and structural factors associated with postpartum depressive symptoms and maternal continuum of care in Borama, Somaliland: a cross-sectional study.Global health action · 2026Article
- Postpartum Depression in High-Risk Pregnancies: Findings from a Telepsychiatry-Based Longitudinal Follow-Up.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Perinatal Depression, Maternal Engagement and Child Social-Emotional Development: A Cohort Study.Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology · 2026Article
- Understanding Maternal Engagement and Child Development in the Context of Perinatal Depression.Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology · 2026Article
- Intersecting Vulnerabilities: Depression, Suicidality, and HIV Risk Among Young Mothers in South Africa.AIDS and behavior · 2026Article
- Does Marriage Benefit Maternal Mental Health? New Evidence from Nairobi, Kenya.Journal of health and social behavior · 2026Article
- Unseen and underserved: A scoping review of perinatal mental health interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa.PLOS mental health · 2026Article
- Identification of psychosocial problems in routine antenatal care in Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2026Article
- Key predictors of postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms among mothers in Kilifi, Kenya: a machine learning approach.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPostnatal depression (PND) is a major cause of negative health-related behaviors and outcomes during infancy, childhood and adolescent period. In Africa, the burden of postnatal depression is high. However, it is under-investigated hence under-treated. To fill this information gap and to advise further interventions, we aimed at analyzing its epidemiology in Africa.
methodsWe searched observational studies conducted in Africa and published in between 01/01/2007 and 30/06/2018 in CINHAL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Psychiatry online, PubMed, SCOPES, and Emcare databases. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) and included studies with good quality. We evaluated the heterogeneity using the Higgins I2 statistics. We used a random-effects model to pool estimates. We assessed publication bias using the funnel plot and Egger's test statistics and adjusted using Tweedie's and Duval Trim and Fill analysis. The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO (Protocol No. CRD42018100461).
resultsNineteen studies involving 40,953 postnatal mothers were part of this systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of PND was 16.84% (95% CI: 14.49% -19.19%). The odds of having PND was higher among women with a poor obstetric condition (POR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.11-4.01) and history of adverse birth and infant health outcomes (POR = 2.85; 95% CI: 1.29-6.25). Having a history of common mental health disorders (POR = 2.47; 95% CI: 1.51-4.04), poor social support (POR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.05-4.05), lower economic status (POR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.75-3.23), and those who had exposure to a different form of intimate partner violence (POR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.60-5.16) had higher odds of PND.
conclusionWhile robust prevalence studies are scarce, our review indicated a high prevalence rate of postnatal depression. The analysis also identified postpartum women at increased risk of PND. Therefore, there is a need to design and escalate comprehensive strategies to decrease its burden, focusing on those women at risk of PND.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.