Estimated prevalence of antenatal depression in the US population

• Published in: Archives of women's mental health Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 395 - 400
• Main Authors: Ashley, June M., Harper, Bridgette D., Arms-Chavez, Clarissa J., LoBello, Steven G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.04.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Counseling; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Female; Health aspects; Health Surveys; Humans; Logistic Models; Marital Status; Maternal & child health; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mental health; Original Article; Population Surveillance; Postpartum depression; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology; Pregnancy Complications - psychology; Pregnant women; Pregnant Women - psychology; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychotherapy; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States - epidemiology; Women; United States; Pregnancy; Women; Prevalence; Antenatal; Mental health; Depression; PHQ-8; Risk factors; BRFSS
• ISSN: 1434-1816; 1435-1102
• DOI: 10.1007/s00737-015-0593-1

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of minor and major depression among pregnant women in the USA. Also, we compare prevalence of depression among pregnant and non-pregnant women while controlling for relevant covariates. A population-representative sample of pregnant women ( n  = 3010) surveyed for the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was compared to a sample of women who were not pregnant ( n  = 68,620). Binary logistic regression was used to determine prevalence ratios of depression for pregnant and non-pregnant women while controlling for the effects of age, race, annual income, employment status, educational level, marital status, general health, and availability of emotional support. Depression was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8). The prevalence of major depression was no greater among pregnant women (6.1 %) compared to non-pregnant women (7 %; adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.1, 95 % confidence interval (CI) .8 and 1.5). The prevalence of minor depression was greater among pregnant women (16.6 %) compared to non-pregnant women (11.4 %; adjusted PR = 1.5, 95 % CI 1.2 and 1.9). Prevalence ratios are adjusted for the effects of covariates noted above. Prevalence of major depression is not associated with pregnancy, but minor depression is more likely among women who are pregnant.