Problems in the registration of postpartum mental disorders (F53) in Kazakhstan: An epidemiological and clinical analysis

U.M. Marat; M.V. Laktionova; M.A. Kassenova; M.A. Baimuratova; Zh.K. Nakhanova

doi:10.37800/RM.2.2026.776

Authors

U.M. Marat
M.V. Laktionova LLP “Ls Clinic
M.A. Kassenova
M.A. Baimuratova
Zh.K. Nakhanova

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37800/RM.2.2026.776

Keywords:

postpartum mental disorders, F53, postpartum depression, mental and behavioral disorders, epidemiology, statistical registration, Kazakhstan

Abstract

Relevance: Postpartum mental disorders remain an important public health problem due to their impact on maternal health, child development, and family well-being. Despite relatively high prevalence rates reported internationally, official statistics in Kazakhstan remain limited and may underestimate the actual disease burden.

The study aimed to assess trends in officially registered postpartum mental and behavioral disorders (ICD-10: F53) in the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2014 to 2024 and to compare official statistics with actual clinical practice using inpatient data from a psychiatric institution in Almaty.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive-analytical study was conducted using official national statistical data for 2014-2024 and inpatient psychiatric records from one medical institution in Almaty for 2025. The analysis included newly diagnosed F53 cases, dispensary follow-up, treated patients, treatment outcomes, and diagnostic coding patterns. Relative indicators per 1,000 births, linear regression analysis, and the Cochran-Armitage trend test were applied.

Results: The number of newly diagnosed F53 cases ranged from 10 to 40 annually. In contrast, the number of women under dispensary follow-up varied from 52 to 93 cases per year. The number of treated F53 cases decreased from 49 in 2017 to 27 in 2024 (p = 0.002). In most regions, official rates remained below 1.0 per 1,000 births. “Improvement” was the predominant treatment outcome throughout the study period. Among 80 postpartum patients treated in one psychiatric inpatient facility in Almaty in 2025, the most frequent diagnoses were anxiety disorders (21.3%), schizophrenia (17.5%), depressive episode (16.3%), and stress-related disorders (12.5%). No F53 diagnoses were registered.

Conclusion: Officially registered F53 indicators in Kazakhstan remain extremely low and do not reflect the actual prevalence of postpartum mental disorders. The identified discrepancy between official statistics and clinical practice suggests substantial underregistration of postpartum mental disorders within the current coding system.

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