Paternal Postpartum Depression in South Asia

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Men's mental health
• Public health

Background:

• Postpartum depression (PPD) is a recognized perinatal mental health issue.
• Paternal PPD (PPPD) is under-researched, especially in South Asia due to cultural factors.
• Societal norms in South Asia often mask men's psychological distress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of paternal PPD in South Asia.
• To identify assessment tools, risk factors, and protective factors for PPPD.
• To explore existing interventions for PPPD in the region.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, etc.).
• Included studies were original, quantitative analyses published in English from South Asian countries.
• Descriptive analysis was employed to synthesize findings.

Main Results:

• The review analyzed 13 articles from five South Asian countries (2015-2025).
• Prevalence of PPPD varied significantly, ranging from 3% to 60%.
• The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was the most frequent assessment tool; associated factors were inconsistent across studies.

Conclusions:

• Paternal PPD has gained recent academic focus in South Asia.
• Public health systems should incorporate paternal screening into maternal and child health services.
• Culturally sensitive assessment tools and training for healthcare professionals are crucial.