Perinatal depression (PND) affects up to 45% of Indian women, a rate nearly twice the global average, yet remains grossly underdiagnosed in primary care. A decade of research (2014–2024) reveals that poverty, domestic violence, and lack of social support are the strongest risk factors, while only 30% of nurses report confidence in identifying PND symptoms. Cultural stigma and inadequate HCW training continue to hinder timely detection.
However, integrating validated tools like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) into antenatal and postnatal checkups has shown promising results. Family physicians—often the first and only point of maternal contact—are pivotal in closing this detection gap. Read the full narrative review in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care to explore evidence-based strategies for screening and managing perinatal depression in community…
