Prevalence of Postnatal Depression in Fathers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background and Aim Postnatal depression (PND) can affect both genders, but the common misconception is that it only affects mothers. Increasing literature reports that 10% of the fathers experience PND after childbirth. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine the pooled estimated prevalence of PND among fathers in the postnatal period and identify its risk factors. Materials and Methods The electronic databases PubMed, ProQuest, BASE, DOAJ, ResearchGate, Semantic Scholar, and BioMed Central were searched for related open-access articles published between January 2010 and March 2021. Finally, 15 articles met inclusion criteria. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals. Results The pooled prevalence of PND in fathers was 24.06%. Partner's depression, lack of social support, poor marital relationship, low income, and low education were all shown to raise the risk of PND in fathers. Conclusion PND in fathers is a serious concern. Early identification and treatment decrease the detrimental impact on mother and child while further improving quality of life.