193821 Perinatal depression: Prevalence and risk factors, Oregon, 2005

Monday, November 9, 2009

Kenneth D. Rosenberg, MD, MPH , Office of Family Health, Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR
Alfredo P. Sandoval, MBA, MS , Office of Family Health, Oregon Public Health Division, Portland, OR
Suzanne Yusem, MS , Office of Family Health, Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR
Emily Elman, MPH , Office of Family Health, Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR
Collette Young, PhD , Office of Family Health, Immunization Program, Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR
Nurit Fischler , Public Health Division, Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR
Cate Wilcox, MPH , Office of Family Health, Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR
Katherine Bradley, PhD, RN , Office of Family Health, Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR
BACKGROUND: Early recognition of perinatal depression (depression during or after pregnancy) is important in preventing adverse health outcomes, including decreased breastfeeding and impaired maternal-infant bonding. Most women with perinatal depression are never identified and therefore never treated.

METHODS: We used Oregon PRAMS data for 2005 births (n =1915; weighted response rate=76%; median time from delivery to survey response=14 weeks). Women were asked 4 questions about depression: hopelessness and anhedonia [inability to experience pleasure from normally pleasurable life events] both during and after pregnancy. All questions had 5 answer options: Always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, Never. Women were counted as having had perinatal depression if they answered Always or Often to any of the 4 questions

RESULTS: 23.0% of respondents reported having had perinatal depression. 17.8% and 11.2%, respectively, reported having had depression during and after pregnancy. In multivariate logistic regression, the strongest predictors of increased perinatal depression were: non-white race (ORa=1.94; 95% CI 1.46-2.59), low income (<185% FPL) (ORa=1.97; 95% CI 1.30, 3.01), partner stress (ORa=2.68; 95% CI 1.82, 3.97), traumatic stress (ORa=1.86; 95% CI 1.18, 2.92).

CONCLUSIONS: We found that depression was more common during pregnancy (17.8%) than after pregnancy (11.2%). Perinatal depression risk was increased in low income and Asian Pacific Islander women, women with a premature infant, and women with partner stress (separated, argued a lot, partner didn't want pregnancy).

PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: A comprehensive approach is needed to alleviate the burden of perinatal depression on women, children, and families.

Learning Objectives:
Describe the prevalence of perinatal depression. Analyze population-based data.

Keywords: Depression, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the principal investigator. I organized the work and wrote the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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