Title

Sociodemographic predictors of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms among women in a medical group practice

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics; Department of Psychiatry

Publication Date

2006-3

Document Type

Article

Subjects

Adult; Age Factors; Depression, Postpartum; Epidemiologic Methods; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Marital Status; Mothers; Pregnancy; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Questionnaires; Socioeconomic Factors; United States

Disciplines

Pediatrics | Psychiatry | Psychiatry and Psychology

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Data are scarce regarding the sociodemographic predictors of antenatal and postpartum depression. This study investigated whether race/ethnicity, age, finances, and partnership status were associated with antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms.

SETTING: 1662 participants in Project Viva, a US cohort study.

DESIGN: Mothers indicated mid-pregnancy and six month postpartum depressive symptoms on the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS). Associations of sociodemographic factors with odds of scoring >12 on the EPDS were estimated.

MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 9% at mid-pregnancy and 8% postpartum. Black and Hispanic mothers had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms compared with non-Hispanic white mothers. These associations were explained by lower income, financial hardship, and higher incidence of poor pregnancy outcome among minority women. Young maternal age was associated with greater risk of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms, largely attributable to the prevalence of financial hardship, unwanted pregnancy, and lack of a partner. The strongest risk factor for antenatal depressive symptoms was a history of depression (OR = 4.07; 95% CI 3.76, 4.40), and the strongest risk for postpartum depressive symptoms was depressive symptoms during pregnancy (6.78; 4.07, 11.31) or a history of depression before pregnancy (3.82; 2.31, 6.31).

CONCLUSIONS: Financial hardship and unwanted pregnancy are associated with antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms. Women with a history of depression and those with poor pregnancy outcomes are especially vulnerable to depressive symptoms during the childbearing year. Once these factors are taken in account, minority mothers have the same risk of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms as white mothers.

DOI of Published Version

10.1136/jech.2005.039370

Source

J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006 Mar;60(3):221-7. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of epidemiology and community health

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

16476752

Link to Full Text

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