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Abstract
Maternal depression, a non-psychotic depressive episode of mild to major severity,
is one of the major contributors of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. Maternal
depression (antepartum or post partum) has been linked to negative health-related
behaviours and adverse outcomes, including psychological and developmental disturbances
in infants, children, and adolescents. Despite its enormous burden, maternal depression
in low-income and middle-income countries remains under-recognised and undertreated.
In this Series paper, we systematically review studies that focus on the epidemiology
of perinatal depression (ie, during antepartum and post-partum periods) among women
residing in low-income and middle-income countries. We also summarise evidence for
the association of perinatal depression with infant and childhood outcomes. This review
is intended to summarise findings from the existing literature, identify important
knowledge gaps, and set the research agenda for creating new generalisable knowledge
pertinent to increasing our understanding of the prevalence, determinants, and infant
and childhood health outcomes associated with perinatal depression. This review is
also intended to set the stage for subsequent work aimed at reinforcing and accelerating
investments toward providing services to manage maternal depression in low-income
and middle-income countries.