A Systematic Review of the Effect of Socioeconomic Status on the Prevalence of Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Abstract

Postpartum depression is a form of major depression that is characterised by persistent feelings of sadness and anxiety following childbirth. Despite its significant impact on maternal and child well-being, the prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression remain understudied, particularly in diverse socioeconomic contexts. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of postpartum depression amongst different socioeconomic groups with the goal of identifying potential prevention and intervention strategies. In this study, the correlation between socioeconomic status (SES) and postpartum depression was examined using 24 peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2024 using Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The findings for this review highlight the significant correlation between lower SES and higher prevalence of postpartum depression, driven by factors such as income, education, antenatal education, and employment status. While being below the median SES is associated with an increased risk of postpartum depression, the relationship between higher SES and postpartum depression risk remains unclear, warranting further research to be done. In addition, our findings may be impacted by publication bias and confounding variables such as race and culture.