Noviyati Rahardjo Putri, Ulinuha Aufa Rahmah, Grhasta Dian Perestroika

Perinatal Mental Health Disorders in Indonesia: A Systematic Review of QuantitativeStudies (2015–2024)

Introduction

Perinatal mental health disorders in indonesia: a systematic review of quantitativestudies (2015–2024). Explore key risk factors for perinatal mental health disorders (depression, anxiety) in Indonesian women (2015-2024). Informs screening, training, and community interventions.

Abstract

Perinatal mental health disorders, especially depression and anxiety, are prevalent among women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Indonesia. These conditions can affect both maternal well-being and child development. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize key risk factors associated with perinatal mental health disorders among women in Indonesia. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for quantitative studies published between 2015 and 2024. Inclusion criteria included studies involving pregnant or postpartum women in Indonesia, using quantitative designs, and reporting on risk factors for depression and/or anxiety. The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Data extraction and screening were conducted manually by reviewers. Out of 434 identified records, six studies met inclusion criteria. Most employed cross-sectional designs and focused on sociodemographic, psychosocial, obstetric, and psychological factors. Common risk factors included young maternal age, low education, unstable employment, lack of social support, and history of mental illness. Several studies also identified low mental health literacy and poor maternal-fetal attachment as contributing factors. The included studies were mostly cross-sectional, limiting causal inference. This review highlights the need for routine mental health screening, greater provider training, and community-based interventions in maternal health care. Future research should prioritize longitudinal designs and assess the effectiveness of policy implementation.

Review

This systematic review addresses a critically important public health issue: perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs) in Indonesia. Given the known prevalence of conditions like depression and anxiety among women in low- and middle-income countries and their significant impact on both maternal and child health, a synthesis of existing evidence is highly valuable. The authors clearly state their objective to identify and synthesize key risk factors in Indonesia through a systematic search of major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) covering a recent and relevant period (2015-2024). Adherence to PRISMA 2020 guidelines provides a strong methodological framework for the review, enhancing its transparency and rigor. Despite a comprehensive search, the review ultimately included a limited number of studies, with only six meeting the specified inclusion criteria. Nevertheless, the synthesis effectively outlines common risk factors identified across these studies, encompassing sociodemographic (young maternal age, low education, unstable employment), psychosocial (lack of social support), obstetric, and psychological (history of mental illness, low mental health literacy, poor maternal-fetal attachment) domains. These findings offer crucial insights for healthcare providers and policymakers, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of PMHDs and underscoring the immediate need for targeted interventions. The review's call for routine mental health screening, enhanced provider training, and community-based initiatives in maternal health care is well-justified by the identified prevalence and risk factors. A significant limitation acknowledged by the authors is the predominance of cross-sectional designs among the included studies, which inherently restricts the ability to infer causality. This, coupled with the small number of studies identified, points to a considerable gap in the existing research landscape concerning PMHDs in Indonesia. While the review effectively synthesizes available data, it simultaneously highlights the nascent stage of robust, longitudinal research in this specific context. Future research should indeed prioritize longitudinal designs to better understand causal pathways and the effectiveness of interventions. Furthermore, assessing the impact of policy implementation would be critical for translating research findings into actionable, sustainable public health strategies. The review serves as an important foundational step, clearly articulating both current understanding and urgent future research priorities for improving perinatal mental health in Indonesia.

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