Surveys of postpartum depression in Miyagi, Japan, after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Abstract

This study explores the correlation between the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the incidence of postpartum depression in Miyagi prefecture, Japan. The design used was a cross-sectional study with self-administered questionnaires, 6–9 months after the disaster. The results showed the prevalence of postnatal women with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score of ≥9 to be 21.3 %. Multivariate analysis showed that exposure to tsunami (odds ratio, 1.80; 95 % confidence interval, 1.16–2.78) was significantly and independently associated with an EPDS score of ≥9. Postnatal women and their children should be treated as a vulnerable population, and a protective framework must be established to prepare for future devastating disasters.

Pregnant Women’s Awareness of Social Capital in the Great East Japan Earthquake-Affected Areas of Miyagi Prefecture: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study

“…[7][8][9] The authors previously reported an increased incidence of perinatal depression and psychological distress in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. [10][11][12][13] Natural disasters destroy social networks and community relationships. This loss of community also results in secondary emotional trauma and depression.…”

Correlation Between the Great East Japan Earthquake and Postpartum Depression: A Study in Miyako, Iwate, Japan

“…1 Previous studies have suggested that maternal mental health disorders, including perinatal depression, can be influenced by the devastation caused by a natural disaster. [2][3][4][5] Perinatal depression can affect the mental health of postnatal women 6 and may impact the quality of care given to the newborn. 7 Maternal psychosocial health can affect the mother-infant relationship, [8][9][10] the nutritional status of the infants, illness, 11,12 and children's emotional or cognitive problems.…”

Postpartum depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: The first quantitative evidence

“…The percentage of mothers with depressive symptoms (EPDS ≥ 9) was remarkably higher than that found in normal circumstances in Japan; it was even higher than that after the Great East Japan Earthquake (Nishigori et al 2014). In particular, mothers living in provinces with severe COVID-19 prevalence were at risk.…”