Depression is an important health problem for women, especially during the childbearing years. As depression is associated with an increase in certain risk behaviors and a decrease in health-seeking behaviors, prenatal depression could have health implications for both mother and fetus. The purpose of this study was to describe the extent of depression and the associations with health behaviors and demographics among pregnant women. We interviewed 152 pregnant women (mean age, 23) using a close-ended, face-to-face interview in a community that is 99% African-American. We used the CES-D and adopted the standardized cutoff score for symptoms of depression. Accordingly, more than 50 percent of the women were clinically depressed. Using comparison of groups analyses, we found no significant differences between the depressed group and the non-depressed group with regard to contraception, pregnancy wantedness, compliance with prenatal care visits, intent to breastfeed or financial difficulties. Depression was slightly more significant among the lower educated (less than high school) and the highly educated (beyond high school). Substance use overall was too low to analyze. The link between domestic violence/abuse and depression, however, was striking. This result suggests that should a woman screen positive for domestic violence, she should also be screened for depression. Similarly, screening positive for depression should signal the provider to screen for domestic violence.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Pregnancy, Depression
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.