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. 2013 Jul 9;2013:291029. doi: 10.1155/2013/291029

Trends of Postpartum Depression in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Yousef Veisani 1,2, Ali Delpisheh 2,3, Kourosh Sayehmiri 2,3,*, Shahab Rezaeian 4
PMCID: PMC3722792  PMID: 23936640

Abstract

Background. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health disorder affecting 13% of women in developed communities. The present study reviews available epidemiological publications on PPD-related aspects in Iranian women to help policy makers and health workers to design preventative strategies and further researches. Materials and Methods. A systematic review was constructed based on the computerized literature valid database. The 95% confidence intervals were calculated by random effects models. Metaregression was introduced to explore and explain heterogeneity between studies. Data manipulation and statistical analyses were performed using Stata 11. Results. Overall, 41 studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of PPD in Iran was 25.3% (95% CI: 22.7%–27.9%). Amongst subgroups of unwanted delivery, illiterate, housewives, and having history of depression the prevalence was 43.4% (35.6–51.1), 31.6% (18.1–45.0), 30.7% (25.2–36.3), and 45.2% (35.4–53.1), respectively. Conclusions. Interventions that would specifically target women with a prior history of depression, illiterates, housewives, or women with unwanted pregnancies could be helpful to decrease the prevalence of postpartum depression in Iran.

1. Introduction

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects almost 13% of women in developed high income communities [1] and may be even more common in developing countries [2, 3]. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), PPD is a major depression when symptoms have onset within 5 weeks of childbirth [4]. PPD presents with the same symptoms as for a major depressive episode occurring outside of the prenatal period, including core symptoms of depressed mood and/or loss of pleasure, together with additional symptoms, including changes in weight or sleep, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, concentration difficulties, and suicidal ideation [4].

Majority of PPD researches in Iran have not utilized diagnostic assessments to identify cases. Alternatively, they have used the validated self-report depression screening instruments, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) [5]. Although this approach has been criticized, the EPDS has showed good sensitivity and specificity, particularly when used to detect both major and minor depressions [5].

In terms of etiology, PPD is a multifactorial disorder with biological, psychological, and sociological aspects interacting with woman's risk individually [6]. Sociological factors such as unwanted delivery, occupation, literacy, and history of depression have been more frequently reported throughout original researches and a meta-analysis [7]. However, they are not comprehensive as the present review is. Many of them drew incompatible or even contradictory conclusions, and the utilization of these statistics is therefore limited. The present study reviews available epidemiological publications on PPD-related aspects in Iranian women to help policy makers and health workers to design preventative strategies and further researches.

2. Methods and Materials

2.1. Literature Search

Our search strategy, selection of publications, and the reporting of results for the review will be conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines [8]. Literature on the postpartum depression among Iranian women was acquired through searching the Scientific Information Databases (SID), Global Medical Article Limberly (Medlib), Iranian Biomedical Journal (Iran Medex), and Iranian Journal Database (Magiran) as well as international databases including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Knowledge. The search strategy was limited to the Persian and/or English language papers published until Feb 2012. All publications with medical subject headings (MeSh) and keywords in title, abstract, and text for words including postpartum depression were investigated. Iranian scientific databases were searched only using the keyword “postpartum depression,” as these databases do not distinguish synonyms from each other and do not allow sensitive search operation using linking terms such as “AND,” “OR,” or “NOT.” Consequently, this single keyword search was the most practical option. The postpartum depression, depression, and Iran MeSh combined with the Selection and Quality Assessment of Articles operator “OR” versus “AND.”

2.2. Selection and Quality Assessment of Articles

All identified papers were critically appraised independently by two reviewers. Disagreements between reviewers were resolved by consensus. Appraisal was guided by a checklist assessing clarity of aims and research questions. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) studies in the mentioned databases with full text, despite the language of original text; (2) having a standardized assessment of depression (either self-report or observer rated), using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Beck depression inventory (BDI) instruments and study conducting of between 2 and 52 weeks postpartum were the main inclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria were (1) studies upon women overlapping time intervals of sample collection from the same origin; (2) inappropriate study design; (3) inadequate reporting of results.

2.3. Data Extraction

Data were extracted using a standardized and prepiloted data extraction form. Data extraction will be undertaken by the first reviewer and checked by a second reviewer although the process will be discussed and piloted by both reviewers. All identified papers will be critically appraised independently by both reviewers. Disagreements were resolved through discussion. Appraisal will be guided by a checklist assessing clarity of aims and research questions. Information was extracted from each included study (including author, title, year and setting of study, methods of sample selection, sample size, study type, age, and prevalence). Therefore, risk of bias as an “Inadequate Reporting” reduced. These data-abstraction forms were reviewed, and eligible papers were entered into the meta-analysis. Besides, as with all meta-analyses, this study has potential limitation of publication bias. Many of our data were extracted from studies written in Persian (language bias). However, we have confidence in our results since the included literature was published in non-Persian language, which should reduce publication bias to some extent.

2.4. Statistical Analysis

The random effects model was used for combining results of studies in meta-analysis. Variance for each study was calculated using the binomial distribution formula. The presence of heterogeneity was determined by the Der Simonian-Laird (DL) approach [9]. Significance level was <0.1, and I 2 statistic was used for estimates of inconsistency within the meta-analyses. The I 2 statistic estimates the percent of observed between-study variability due to heterogeneity rather than to chance and ranges from 0 to 100 percent (values of 25%, 50%, and 75% were considered representing low, medium, and high heterogeneity resp.) [10]. A value of 0% indicates no observed heterogeneity whilst 100% indicates significant heterogeneity. For this review, we determined that I 2 values above 75 percent were indicative of significant heterogeneity warranting analysis with a random effect model as opposed to the fixed effects model to adjust for the observed variability. The I 2 is an estimate of the proportion of the total variation across studies that are beyond chance. In situations with high between-study heterogeneity, the use of random effects models is recommended as it produces study weights that primarily reflect the between-study variation and thus provide close to equal weighting. Univariate and multivariate metaregression analyses were used to explore possible sources of heterogeneity among studies [11]. We analyzed sources of heterogeneity by subgroup and metaregression analysis using dichotomous and continuous variables. Univariate and multivariate approaches were employed to assess the causes of heterogeneity among the selected studies. Metaregression was used to show the trend of variation of prevalence during time. Egger test was conducted to examine potential publication bias. Egger's test can reveal a symmetric or asymmetric funnel plot. The latter indicates the existence of a significant publication bias or a systematic heterogeneity between studies. Data manipulation and statistical analyses were done using STATA software, version 11.2. P values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

3. Results

According to the literature search strategies, 268 studies were identified, but 227 studies were excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. There were 9 studies in English [5, 12–19] and 32 studies in Persian [20–51] of the finally adopted 41 studies, and they were published between 1995 and 2012. The pooled sample sizes included 21907 women (Table 1 and Figure 1).

Table 1.

Feature of studies among women with postpartum depression at different regions.

Study number/author(s) Place No. of population Assessment times Instrument Assessment Cut point Prevalence of PPD (%)
(1) Kheirabadi et al. [12, 16] Isfahan 6627 2−12 weeks EPDS 13 30
(2) Khorramirad et al. [38] Qom 300 6−12 weeks EPDS 13 23.7
(3) Hosseini Sazi et al. [34] Gorgan 180 2−14 weeks BDI 16 23.3
(4) Zangeneh et al. [51] Kermanshah 531 2−6 weeks EPDS 13 40.7
(5) Azimi Lolati et al. [24] Sari 442 6−8 weeks EPDS 13 22
(6) Sehhatie Shafaei et al. [49] Tabriz 600 10−20 weeks EPDS 12 34.7
(7) Shobeiri et al. [50] Hamadan 400 2−8 weeks BDI 16 32
(8) Khodadadi et al. [36] Rasht 350 6−8 weeks EPDS 13 16
(9) Hosseini et al. [33] Kermanshah 330 4−14 weeks BDI 16 24.8
(10) Ghaffari et al. [31] Ramsar 100 6−16 weeks GHQ 28 22 36.6
(11) Foruzandeh and Dashtebozorgi [30] Shahrekord 300 6−10 weeks BDI 16 21.3
(12) Bahrami et al. [26] Dezful 140 6−10 weeks EPDS 13 31.4
(13) Dolatian et al. [28] Tehran 285 2−6 weeks EPDS 12 20.3
(14) Ajh et al. [22] Astaneh 440 2−4 weeks BDI 16 18.6
(15) Khooshemehry et al. [37] Tehran 250 6−52 weeks BDI 16 30
(16) Tabrizi et al. [52] Hamadan 144 2−12 weeks BDI 16 16.8
(17) Barekatain et al. [27] Isfahan 1898 6−8 weeks EPDS 13 24.4
(18) Rahmani et al. [45] Tabriz 560 8−52 weeks EPDS 12 32
(19) Jafarpour et al. [35] Kermanshah 975 13−26 weeks EPDS 12 17.5
(20) Mousavi et al. [42] Kashan 204 9−13 weeks BDI 13 34.7
(21) Bagherzadeh et al. [25] Bushehr 400 2−12 weeks EPDS 15 15.5
(22) Kiani et al. [39] Astara 105 2−4 weeks EPDS 12 25
(23) Kamranpour and Shakiba [20] Rasht 310 2−8 weeks EPDS 12 6.4
(24) Dolatian et al. [28, 29] Marivan 204 2−6 weeks EPDS 10 34.2
(25) Salary et al. [47] Mashhad 60 2−4 weeks EPDS 10 9.9
(26) Lashkaripour et al. [40] Zahedan 300 4−18 weeks BDI 15 33.7
(27) Nikpour et al. [43] Amol 420 2−8 weeks EPDS 12 10.3
(28) Asadi Sadeghi Azar et al. [13] Zabol 408 2−8 weeks BDI 16 40.4
(29) Aghapoor and Mohammadi [21] Tabriz 300 6−12 weeks BDI 16 28
(30) Ghaffari Nejad et al. [32] Kerman 400 2−8 weeks BDI 16 31.1
(31) Akbari et al. [53] Hamadan 159 4−8 weeks EPDS 13 26.4
(32) Salehi [48] Hormozgan 164 2−8 weeks EPDS 13 14.9
(33) Sadr et al. [46] Tehran 300 2−8 weeks EPDS 13 23.7
(34) Taavoni et al. [14] Tehran 597 4−12 weeks EPDS 13 22.6
(35) Alipour et al. [15] Qom 160 4−12 weeks EPDS 13 25
(36) Montazeri et al. [5] Isfahan 100 12−14 weeks EPDS 13 22
(37) Kheirabadi et al. [12, 16] Isfahan 1291 6−8 weeks EPDS 13 26.3
(38) Iranfar et al. [17] Kermanshah 163 2−8 weeks BDI 10 48.7
(39) Abbaszadeh et al. [18] Kerman 400 8−28 weeks EPDS 13 45.8
(40) Tashakori et al. [19] Ahvaz 210 8−28 weeks EPDS 12 21.4
(41) Akbarzadeh et al. [23] Shiraz 400 2−8 weeks BDI 16 21.1
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Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Results of the systematic literature search.

The heterogeneity between studies was 94.5% with an I square (I 2) statistic (P ≤ 0.001). The pooled prevalence of postpartum depression was 25% (95% CI: 22.7–27.9%) (Figure 2). Based on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Beck depression inventory (BDI), the PPD prevalence in Iran was 24.3% (95% CI: 21.0–27.7) and 25.3% (95% CI: 22.7–27.9), respectively.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Forest plots for random effects meta-analyses. CI indicates confidence interval.

Amongst subgroups of unwanted delivery, illiterate, housewives, and having history of depression, the prevalence was 43.4% (35.6–51.1), 31.6% (18.1–45.0), 30.7% (25.2–36.3), and 45.2% (35.4–53.1), respectively (Table 2). A significant geographic difference in pooled PPD was observed.

Table 2.

Prevalence of postpartum depression among subgroups.

Variables No. of studies No. of patients Prevalence % (95% CI) Heterogeneity Model
I 2 P value
Housewife 8 10756 30.7 (25.2–36.3) 96.4% 0.000 REM*
Employee 8 10756 29.3 (21.8–36.8) 96.4% 0.000 REM
History of depression 8 10787 45.2 (35.4–53.1) 97.9 % 0.000 REM
No history of depression 8 10787 27.3 (21.1–33.5) 97.3% 0.000 REM
Unwanted delivery 11 11702 43.4 (35.6–51.1) 98.3% 0.000 REM
Desired delivery 11 11702 29.0 (23.5–34.6) 97.1% 0.000 REM
Illiterate 4 7688 31.6 (18.1–45.0) 98.3% 0.000 REM
literate 4 7688 41.1 (25.1–57.1) 98.7% 0.000 REM
Pooled 41 21907 25.3 (22.7–27.9) 94.8% 0.000 REM
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*Random effects model.

The lowest PPD rate was observed in central, and the highest rate was observed in west and south-eastern border areas of Iran (Figure 3).

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Regional distribution of pooled prevalence of postpartum depression in Iran.

The metaregression of the prevalence PPD for each study on the interval sample size showed a negative and no statistically significant relationship (β = −0.0003, s.e. (β) = 0.0002, P = 0.995) and no statistically significant change in prevalence over the time (β = −0.4539, s.e. (β) = 0.025, P = 0.536) (Figure 4). Since 1995, the PPD rates showed an increasing trend (Figure 5).

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Metaregression plots of change in PPD according to changes in continuous study moderator's year and sample size.

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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Prevalence of postpartum depression among Iranian women at different study periods.

4. Discussion

Comprehensiveness of available information and a large sample size made the present study representative. There have been recent systematic reviews of studies dealing with risk factors of PPD in Iranian women [7], but the present study aimed to determine prevalence of PPD by a systematic review and meta-analysis method. The psychometric properties of two main screening tools such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Beck depression inventory (BDI) have been repeatedly assessed across the world.

The present study showed that the pooled prevalence of PPD among Iranian women was 25.3%, which is similar to the finding of a recent meta-analysis reported by Paulson and colleagues (25.6%) [54]. But it was not consistent with another meta-analysis of 15.6% [55]. This difference may be due to the assessment tools, geographic, and cut-off point differences. Prior studies that have noted the importance of recurrent PPD in women with a prior episode of postpartum affective psychosis may be at risk for recurrence postpartum 50–70% [56].

A significant geographic difference of the prevalence of PPD was also observed. Compared with other regions, west and south-eastern borders of Iran had relatively higher prevalence rates, accounting for 48.7% and 40.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, the lowest prevalence rate was found in north of Iran of 6.4%. Notably, during the period through 1995 and 2012, the prevalence rates were commonly at high level among different regions of Iran especially in border regions; the rates even reached nearly 50%. Possible reasons for this lack of reduction may include backwardness of border province to the central provinces, poor economic conditions, lack of program education in the sensitive groups, or limited sampling.

An extensive list of characteristics of PPD was examined among a diverse and representative sample of Iranian women. Conducting this study with a large sample size increased the statistical power. Sociological factors in Iran such as unwanted delivery as a result of the lack of family planning, illiterate result of gender discrimination, and carrier because most women are housewives have been more studied. The results of this study indicate that prevalence of PPD in illiterate women, unwanted delivery, and housewives women with a prior history of depression was 31.6%, 43.4%, 30.7%, 45.2%, respectively. Rates of relapse are particularly high in women with a prior history of depression with estimates ranging from 25%–50% [57]. Interventions that would specifically target women with a prior history of depression, illiterate women, housewives mothers, or women with unwanted pregnancy may help to decrease the prevalence of PPD among this population.

The strengths of this review include the large number of samples included and therefore the ability to examine prevalence in clinically relevant subgroups with some degree of precision. The I 2 is an estimate of the proportion of the total variation across studies that is beyond chance. In situations with high between-study heterogeneity, the use of random effects models is recommended as it produces study weights that primarily reflect the between-study variation and thus provides close to equal weighting. Univariate and multivariate metaregression analyses were used to explore possible sources of heterogeneity among studies [11]. Furthermore, we have examined heterogeneity using subgroup analyses and metaregression, which allowed us to investigate dichotomous and continuous variables such as age, sample size, and the date when the study was conducted. According to the metaregression analysis, none of the data were not statistically significant with changes of PPD prevalence. The high levels of heterogeneity between the studies are to be expected as the studies were conducted in different samples, and this may simply reflect real differences in prevalence over time and by region. Particular reasons for this difference in women are unclear. Our approach to this was to identify causes of heterogeneity, and two possible explanations were assessed. Possibilities include that in the diagnostic systems, fatigability is included in the core criteria for depression. In addition, it may be that the distinction between minor and major forms of depression is more important in women as the overlap between sadness and clinical depression is more difficult to determine.

There are some limitations in the present study which need to be addressed. First of all, more studies were observational and patients were not randomly chosen. Therefore, selection bias and confounding seem inevitable. Secondly, much of our data were extracted from the internal databases in Iran. Thirdly, our ability to assess study quality was limited by the fact that many studies failed to offer detailed information on selected subjects or valid data on important factors, and in the end timing of the administration of the EPDS and information bias may be present due to the self-report nature, and eventually in this review, there may be other explanations for the heterogeneity that we did not test, such as comorbidity with other mental disorders, but systematic data on this were lacking.

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