Antenatal depression: Prevalence and risk factor patterns across the gestational period

The prevalence of antenatal depression (AD) among pregnant women varies according to the populations under study and the periods of evaluation. This paper investigated patterns of AD prevalence and risk factors in a Brazilian sample.

Using semi-structured interviews as well as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus (MINI), 148 pregnant women were assessed in their second and third trimesters. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the prevalence of and the significant risk factors for AD across both trimesters (p<0.05).

The prevalence of AD using the MINI was 13.5% and 10.1% in the second and third trimester, respectively. Prevalence rates using the symptom scales were even higher. In our bivariate analysis, lifetime major depression was the main AD risk factor (p<0.001), along with the number of sons (p=0.02) and intimate partner abuse (p=0.03). After adjustment for confounding factors, only lifetime major depression (p<0.001) and intimate partner abuse (p=0.02) remained as independent risk factors. There were no statistically significant differences in the AD prevalence rates and risk factors found when comparing across trimesters.

The study is limited by possible selection bias introduced by the method of recruitment and the number of women lost to follow up.

AD prevalence rates found are close to the worldwide rates. Lifetime major depression was the main risk factor for AD in our study.