According to a previous WHO study, depression during pregnancy and the year after delivery is a disorder that occurs in all cultures. Despite this, the figures, contrary to what was thought, increase in less developed countries when associated with unwanted pregnancies, forced displacement or poverty. Specifically, maternal depression ranges from 15 percent in developed countries to 57 percent in third world countries.
This is a problem to which mothers who care for infants or young children are most vulnerable. Maternal depression has the consequences, according to the study, less care and shorter periods of breastfeeding . This has a direct effect on the development of children. The WHO has expanded its research by studying the cases of 14,000 mothers and their young children, mostly under two years of age. All of them from developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America .
The conclusion of the research is that diagnosis, early treatment and prevention in these countries would benefit not only women, but also the growth of children. These measures are very well-intentioned, but of questionable feasibility and little logic due to the socio-economic context of the countries in question.
