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Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a depressive disorder that occurs after childbirth and can last until a year after delivery. The global prevalence of PPD among mothers is between 0.5% and 63.3%. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression within a year after birth among mothers in Semey (Kazakhstan) and identify the factors associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional study covering 251 women within one year after delivery was conducted in five Primary Healthcare Centers in Semey. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for assessing PPD was used. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25. The statistical significance and magnitude of the relationships between dependent and independent variables were conducted using chi-square and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: The prevalence of PPD within a year after delivery was estimated as 59.4%. Factors including accommodation type (p = 0.021), satisfaction with living conditions (p = 0.001), relationship with mother-in-law (p = 0.013), the interest of the patronage service about the psychological state of a woman after childbirth (p = 0.001) and husband employment status (p = 0.04) showed significant positive association with PPD. Conclusion: The high prevalence rate of PPD and associated risk factors imply the need for strengthening and improving of postpartum care program in country. Further research on the experiences and the level of antenatal depression among women will be needed to understand and prevent any possible depressions in prenatal and postpartum periods.

BACKGROUND: The health status of women and children is the first and foremost priority for all countries in the world. In the first decade of Kazakhstan’s independence, the country’s population decreased by over 1 million, or 9.7%. Since 2003, the population of Kazakhstan has been growing steadily and is projected to be 18.9 million people in 2021. The focus on maternal and child health, an increase in the birth rate and a decrease in child and maternal mortality rates are the most important directions for state policy to improve the health and demographic situation in the country. AIM: The main purpose of the article is to analyze the main indicators of maternal and neonatal health in Kazakhstan before and after the implementation of the state health development programs “Densaulyk” and “Salamatty Kazakhstan.” METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in two main databases of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan (Medinfo Database and www.stat gov kz). RESULTS: According to the official statistics in Medinfo database, almost all 12 maternal health and 11 infant health indicators had a positive tendency after implementing state programs (2011–2018). Notable exceptions among maternal and infant indicators included: Rate of C-section increased to 81.3%, provision of care by obstetrician-gynecologists decreased to 16% and the number of hospital beds for pregnant women, women in labor and parturient women dropped to 37.9%, service provision by pediatricians (including neonatologists) decreased to 27.8% with provision of children’s hospital beds dropping to 24.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Health indicators related to mother, pregnancy and children under 1 year old showed favorable results after implementing the state programs “Densaulyk” and “Salamatty Kazakhstan. However, high mortality rates among premature and low birth weight babies point to the need for changes in prevention and education systems in general.