Reliability and validity of instruments for assessing perinatal depression in African settings: systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A major barrier to improving perinatal mental health in Africa is the lack of locally validated tools for identifying probable cases of perinatal depression or for measuring changes in depression symptom severity. We systematically reviewed the evidence on the reliability and validity of instruments to assess perinatal depression in African settings.

Methods and findings

Of 1,027 records identified through searching 7 electronic databases, we reviewed 126 full-text reports. We included 25 unique studies, which were disseminated in 26 journal articles and 1 doctoral dissertation. These enrolled 12,544 women living in nine different North and sub-Saharan African countries. Only three studies (12%) used instruments developed specifically for use in a given cultural s

SUBMITTER: Tsai AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3858316 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature