Transcultural Study of Postnatal Depression

Declaration of interest None. Postnatal depression affects between 10% and 15% of new mothers. It is associated with adverse consequences for the mother’s mental health and functioning (Kumar & Robson, 1984; Marks et al, 1992), with deterioration of the marital relationship and of the psychological health of the partner (Lovestone & Kumar, 1993; Ballard & Davies, 1996), and has an adverse longterm impact on the cognitive and social development of the infant (Hay et al, 2001; Murray & Cooper, 2003). Despite growing recognition of the problem of postnatal depression, no research has yet linked analyses of its origins and consequences with studies of service provision in different national health and social service systems. For such research to be achieved, methods of assessment are required that take into account the particular characteristics and needs of women perinatally and that have been modified and tested in cross-national contexts.