Current studies estimate the prevalence to be 15-25% but this is likely higher due to a lack of data and recorded cases. The magnitude of postpartum depression in South Africa is between 31.7% and 39.6%, in Morocco between 6.9% and 14%, in Nigeria between 10.7% and 22.9%, in Uganda 43%, in Tanzania 12%, in Zimbabwe 33%, in Sudan 9.2%, in Kenya between 13% and 18.7% and, 19.9% for participants in Ethiopia according to studies carried out in these countries among postpartum mothers between the ages of 17–49. This demonstrates the gravity of this problem in Africa, and the need for postpartum depression to be taken seriously as a public health concern in the continent. Additionally, each of these studies were conducted using Western developed assessment tools. Cultural factors can affect diagnosis and can be a barrier to assessing the burden of disease. Some recommendations to combat postpartum depression in Africa include considering postpartum depression as a public health problem that is neglected among postpartum mothers. Investing in research to assess the actual prevalence of postpartum depression, and encourage early screening, diagnosis and treatment of postpartum depression as an essential aspect of maternal care throughout Africa.Issues in Reporting Prevalence
Most studies regarding PPD are done using self-report screenings which are less reliable than clinical interviews. This use of self-report may have results that underreport symptoms and thus postpartum depression rates. History
Prior to the 19th century
Western medical sciences understanding and construction of postpartum depression has evolved over the centuries.
History
In 1945, the ophthalmologist David Glendenning Cogan (1908–1993) first described the "nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis and vestibuloauditory symptoms" that would later bear his name. In 1963, the atypical form of Cogan syndrome, also known as "Logan Syndrome" was first described. References
Further reading
Haynes BF, Kaiser-Kupfer MI, Mason P, Fauci AS (November 1980). "Cogan syndrome: studies in thirteen patients, long-term follow-up, and a review of the literature". Medicine. 59 (6): 426–41. doi:10.1097/00005792-198011000-00003. PMID 6969345. Gluth MB, Baratz KH, Matteson EL, Driscoll CL (April 2006). "Cogan syndrome: a retrospective review of 60 patients throughout a half century". Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 81 (4): 483–8. doi:10.4065/81.4.483. PMID 16610568. Norton EW, Cogan DG (May 1959). "Syndrome of nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis and vestibuloauditory symptoms; a long-term follow-up". Archives of Ophthalmology. 61 (5): 695–7. doi:10.1001/archopht.1959.00940090697004. PMID 13636563. Bicknell JM, Holland JV (March 1978). "Neurologic manifestations of Cogan syndrome". Neurology. 28 (3): 278–81. doi:10.1212/wnl.28.3.278. PMID 305011. S2CID 22367876. Casselman JW, Majoor MH, Albers FW (January 1994). "MR of the inner ear in patients with Cogan syndrome". American Journal of Neuroradiology. 15 (1): 131–8. PMC 8332073. PMID 8141044. Allen NB, Cox CC, Cobo M,  et al. (March 1990). "Use of immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of severe ocular and vascular manifestations of Cogans syndrome". The American Journal of Medicine. 88 (3): 296–301. doi:10.1016/0002-9343(90)90157-9. PMID 2309745. Kundell SP, Ochs HD (July 1980). "Cogan syndrome in childhood". The Journal of Pediatrics. 97 (1): 96–8. doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(80)80142-9. PMID 7381656. == External links ==