The Effect of Aromatherapy Applications on Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Blues: A Meta-Analysis

English (OpenAlex)

The study aimed to collect empirical information on the effects of aromatherapy practices on postpartum depression and blues and assess the influence of these practices on postpartum depression and blues. The current study synthesized findings to determine the effect of aromatherapy applications on postpartum depression and postpartum blues using a meta-analytic approach. Studies published between January 1, 2012, and December 1, 2022, in the databases “PubMed,” “Cochrane,” “Scopus,” and “Web of Science” were searched. Keywords were “postpartum depression”, “postpartum blues” and “aromatherapy”. After removing duplicate records, 358 records were reached. After title evaluation, full-text evaluation was performed, and the findings of five articles (n=407 women) that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. A funnel plot was used to assess the risk of publication bias. This meta-analysis was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five studies analyzed in the review reported that aromatherapy for postpartum depression and postpartum blues was effective and that the reduction in postpartum depression was statistically significant (Hedge’s g= -0,346, %95 CI: -0.161, -0.141; p=0.001). This meta-analysis, aromatherapy is effective in reducing the postpartum depression and postpartum blues. The articles reported no evidence of any adverse effects of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy can be used as a non-pharmacological therapeutic option for women suffering from postpartum depression and postpartum blues, but further study is needed to improve the level of evidence. PROSPERO: CRD42023416062