Editing Postpartum depression (section)

=== Asia ===
From a selected group of studies found from a literature search, researchers discovered many demographic factors of Asian populations that showed significant association with PPD. Some of these include the age of the mother at the time of childbirth as well as the older age at marriage.<ref name="Mehta_2014">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mehta S, Mehta N | title = An Overview of Risk Factors Associated to Post-partum Depression in Asia | journal = Mental Illness | volume = 6 | issue = 1 | pages = 14–17 | date = March 2014 | pmid = 25478140 | pmc = 4253395 | doi = 10.1108/mi.2014.5370 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Being a migrant and giving birth to a child overseas has also been identified as a risk factor for PPD.<ref name="Mehta_2014" /> Specifically for Japanese women who were born and raised in Japan but who gave birth to their child in Hawaii, USA, about 50% of them experienced emotional dysfunction during their pregnancy.<ref name="Mehta_2014" /> All women who gave birth for the first time and were included in the study experienced PPD.<ref name="Mehta_2014" /> In immigrant Asian Indian women, the researchers found a minor depressive symptomatology rate of 28% and an additional major depressive symptomatology rate of 24% likely due to different healthcare attitudes in different cultures and distance from family leading to homesickness.<ref name="Mehta_2014" />

In the context of Asian countries, premarital pregnancy is an important risk factor for PPD. This is because it is considered highly unacceptable in most Asian cultures as there is a highly conservative attitude toward sex among Asian people than people in the West.<ref name="Mehta_2014" /> In addition, conflicts between mother and daughter-in-law are notoriously common in Asian societies as traditionally for them, marriage means the daughter-in-law joining and adjusting to the groom's family completely. These conflicts may be responsible for the emergence of PPD.<ref name="Mehta_2014" /> Regarding the gender of the child, many studies have suggested dissatisfaction with an infant's gender (birth of a baby girl) is a risk factor for PPD. This is because, in some Asian cultures, married couples are expected by the family to have at least one son to maintain the continuity of the bloodline which might lead a woman to experience PPD if she cannot give birth to a baby boy.<ref name="Mehta_2014" />

==== The Middle East ====

With a prevalence of 27%, postpartum depression amongst mothers in the [[Middle East]] is higher than in the Western world and other regions of the world.<ref name="Alshikh_Ahmad_2021" /> Despite the high number of postpartum depression cases in the region in comparison to other areas, there is a large literature gap in correlation with the Arab region, and no studies have been conducted in the [[Middle East]] studying interventions and prevention to tackle postpartum depression in Arab mothers.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ahmed SR, Watt F, Mahfoud ZR, Korayem M, Buhmaid S, Alberry M, Ibrahim IM, Tandon SD | title = Examining Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Culturally Adapted Evidence-Based Postpartum Depression Preventive Intervention for Women in Doha, Qatar: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial | language = EN | journal = JMIR Research Protocols | volume = 12 | issue = 1 | pages = e11623 | date = August 2023 | pmid = 37566449 | pmc = 10457694 | doi = 10.2196/11623 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Countries within the Arab region had a postpartum depression prevalence ranging from 10% to 40%, with a PPD prevalence in [[Qatar]] at 18.6%, [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]] between 18% and 24%, [[Jordan]] between 21.2 and 22.1, [[Lebanon]] at 21%, [[Saudi Arabia]] between 10.1 and 10.3, and [[Tunisia]] between 13.2% and 19.2%, according to studies carried out in these countries.<ref name="Ayoub_2020" /><ref name="Haque_2015">{{Cite journal | vauthors = Haque A, Namavar A, Breene KA |date=2015 |title=Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression in Middle Eastern/Arab Women |journal=Journal of Muslim Mental Health |volume=9 |issue=1 |doi=10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0009.104 |hdl=2027/spo.10381607.0009.104 |issn=1556-5009|doi-access=free }}</ref>

There are also examples of nations with noticeably higher rates, such as [[Iran]] at 40.2%, [[Bahrain]] at 37.1%, and [[Turkey]] at 27%. The high prevalence of postpartum depression in the region may be attributed to socio-economic and cultural factors involving social and partner support, poverty, and prevailing societal views on [[pregnancy]] and [[mother]]hood.<ref name="Ayoub_2020" /> Another factor is related to the region's women's lack of access to care services because many societies within the region do not prioritize mental health and do not perceive it as a serious issue. The prevailing crises and wars within some countries of the region, lack of education, polygamy, and early childbearing are additional factors.<ref name="Ayoub_2020"/><ref name="Haque_2015" /><ref name="Alshikh_Ahmad_2021" /> Fertility rates in Palestine are noticeably high; higher fertility rates have been connected to a possible pattern where birth rates increase after violent episodes. Research conducted on Arab women indicates that more cases of postpartum depression are associated with increased parity.<ref name="Qandil_2016"/> A study found that the most common pregnancy and birth variable reported to be associated with PPD in the Middle East was an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy while having a female baby instead of a male baby is also discussed as a factor with 2 to 4 times higher risk.<ref name="Ayoub_2020" />