Guarding Against the Shadows

Maternal mental health issues were estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to contribute to a significant portion of the global disease burden. In 2024 postpartum depression (PPD) was reported to impact over 15% of women globally disproportionately affecting those in low- and middle-income countries. According to the WHO untreated PPD contributes to long-term adverse outcomes for both mothers and infants including impaired cognitive and emotional development of children and increased maternal morbidity and mortality rates (Ahmad Alkhatib & Luo 2021).Postpartum depression is recognized as a leading cause of maternal mental health challenges ranking as one of the top contributors to the health burden among women of reproductive age. These challenges are particularly prevalent in developing countries due to limited healthcare access stigma and lack of awareness about mental health (Al-Sabah et al. 2024). Efforts to address postpartum depression are vital for improving maternal and child health outcomes globally (Ayalew Atlaw & Ayenew 2023).