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Risk factors for postpartum depression: An evidence-based systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Since postpartum depression is the most common psychiatric condition to arise after childbirth that affects both the mother’s and child’s health, Zhao & Zhang (2020) examined the systematic reviews and meta-analyses available to determine the risk factors of postpartum depression. By scouring through the data on several databases, the researchers discovered not only risk factors but also controversial and protective factors. Controversial factors included blood cortisol levels, while the following were identified to have protective roles in postpartum depression: skin-to-skin care, higher concentrations of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the mothers’ milk, increased seafood intake, healthy dietary patterns, multivitamin supplementation, fish and PUFA intake, calcium, Vitamin D, and zinc. The risk factors of postpartum depression were mainly related to violence and abuse, immigration status, gestational diabetes, cesarean section, depressive history, vitamin D deficiency, obese and overweight, lack of social support, traditional dietary pattern (Japanese, Indian, United Kingdom, and Brazilian dietary pattern), multiple births, preterm and low-birth-weight infants, postpartum anemia, negative birth experience, and postpartum sleep disruption and poor postpartum sleep. While several risk factors were identified by this review, 5 factors were controversial due to limited evidence. [NPID: postpartum mental health, nutrients in pregnancy, pregnancy, postpartum depression, cortisol levels, DHA, cortisol, seafood, fish, multivitamin, calcium, Vitamin D, zinc, violence, abuse, immigration, immigration status, gestational diabetes, C section, cesarean section, depression, obesity, social support, Jpan, India, United Kingdom, UK, Brazil, birth weight, anemia, sleep]
Year: 2020
