title: Mental disorders of pregnant and postpartum women after earthquakes: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review was to systematically search and critique relevant literature on the potential psychological impact of earthquakes on peripartum women to synthesize existing knowledge for further action.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search through 5 databases was conducted for relevant publications in English, and the results were screened through a set of inclusion and exclusion processes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight articles were included. Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder were the most often reported mental disorders. Some factors (eg, family relationships and social support) were associated with mental disorders suffered by peripartum women after earthquakes. An assessment of the quality of the studies showed that most did not have high levels of evidence because of their cross-sectional design and limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the factors that influenced the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women after earthquakes, family function appears to be one of the most important and deserves further exploration. Other mental health conditions such as minor psychiatric disorders should also be studied for their relationship with disasters and pregnancy. Well-designed studies are needed to enable a better understanding of the relationship between earthquakes and the mental disorders of peripartum women so that the most appropriate interventions can be proposed.
authors.affiliation: 1Sichuan University - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction/IDMR,Chengdu,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: 1Sichuan University - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction/IDMR,Chengdu,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Chung-Lim Vico
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: 1Sichuan University - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction/IDMR,Chengdu,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lian
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: 4West China Second University Hospital,Chengdu,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Bi-Ru
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: 4West China Second University Hospital,Chengdu,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Xing-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1Sichuan University - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction/IDMR,Chengdu,Sichuan,China.
authors.forename: Mei-Che
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D065840:Protective Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors