Risk and protective factors associated with postnatal depression in Mexican adolescents

We explored factors associated with postnatal depression and further evaluated whether any of these risk and protective factors are specific for adolescent mothers. Data concerning depression levels, family and individual factors were collected in a cross-sectional study which surveyed 298 women in Monterrey, N.L., Mexico. Mean maternal age was 24.64 years, and 27.18% of the mothers were between 14 and 19 years old. Prevalence of postnatal depression was higher in adolescents (16.05%) than in adult mothers (14.29%) but, on average, this difference was not significant. The association between individual factors and postnatal depression for both adult and adolescent mothers was explored. Our results revealed that social support is significantly associated with less possibility of postnatal depression in both groups, and that this effect is stronger for adolescents (OR=0.81) than for adults (OR=0.92). For the sample as a whole postnatal depression was associated with lower levels of education, reported fear during labor and living with partner. We also found that having a girl greatly increased the possibility of postnatal depression. We conclude that social support is a protective factor associated with postnatal depression, especially for adolescents.