SYDNEY, May 1 (Xinhua) -- A global study of over 2 million women and girls found major depression peaks about two weeks after childbirth, highlighting the need for earlier screening and support.

The research, led by the University of Queensland (UQ) and published in The Lancet Psychiatry, analyzed data from 780 global studies, tracking mental health from conception to one year after birth, said a UQ statement released Friday.

Researchers found that while major depression affects about 4.3 percent of women globally, prevalence rises to 6.2 percent during pregnancy and 6.8 percent in the year following childbirth, reaching a high of 8.3 percent at two weeks postpartum.

The study also identified regional variations, with the highest rates in southern sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and the lowest in high-income Asia-Pacific regions. In Australasia, prevalence was slightly below the global average.

Differences in healthcare access, barriers to care, and cultural factors likely contribute to the regional differences, said UQ Adjunct Research Fellow Paul Miller, co-author of the study. ■