Kottayam: Following the pregnancy, up to 28 per cent of mothers in Kerala experience Postpartum depression (also called PPD), reveals a study conducted by BioScience Biotechnology Research Communication in 2023.

The study further reveals that even those who experience PPD do not perceive it as a mental health problem.

According to the data collected from 150 mothers aged 25 to 40 who were born and brought up in Kerala, only 53.9 per cent had heard about postpartum depression. However, 77.3 per cent of them showed symptoms akin to PPD. Of these, 28.3 per cent had PPD for six months and 24.2 per cent for one year.

Most new mothers suffer from a condition called "baby blues" following childbirth, which includes mood changes, crying episodes, anxiety, and difficulties sleeping. The condition typically begins within the first two to three days of birth and may continue for up to two weeks. When it lasts longer and becomes more severe, it becomes Postpartum depression.

Meanwhile, another study published in November 2023 in the journal Current Women's Health Review reveals that 112 (26.2 per cent) of 427 women experienced PPD for two weeks to up to six months following the pregnancy. The study was based on hospitals in the state.