Paternal Postpartum Depression in South Asia.

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a well-recognized perinatal mental health condition, yet its occurrence among fathers remains poorly studied, particularly in South Asia where patriarchal norms obscure men's psychological distress.

Objective: To examine the prevalence, assessment tools, risk and protective factors, and interventions for paternal PPD (PPPD) across South Asian countries.

Methods: A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, BanglaJOL, NepJOL, and Google using search terms. Research articles eligible for inclusion were original studies, quantitative analyses published in English from South Asian region. Descriptive analysis was performed considering the objectives.

Results: This review included 13 articles from five South Asian countries published between 2015 and 2025. Sample sizes ranged from 15 to 826. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was the most commonly used tool; the prevalence of PPPD ranged from 3% to 60%. Associated factors also varied from study to study.

Conclusions: PPD among fathers has received academic attention in the recent decade in South Asia. Public health systems need to integrate paternal screening into maternal and child health programs, develop culturally validated tools, and train healthcare professionals to recognize gender-specific presentations of depression.