The Association between Maternal Depression, Infant Characteristics and Need for Assistance in A Low-Income-Country
H J Odendaal1, M Human1, C van der Merwe2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, South Africa.
Journal of Substance Abuse and Alcoholism
|December 5, 2022
Summary
Peripartum depression is common in low-income countries. At-risk women, often younger with lower socioeconomic status, experienced worse infant outcomes, with missed appointments exacerbating these risks.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Global public health
- Maternal-child health
Background:
- Peripartum depression is a significant public health concern, particularly in low-income countries.
- Challenges exist in identifying women requiring support and in their utilization of available services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors associated with fetal and postnatal consequences of prenatal depression.
- To investigate management strategies for high-risk pregnant women.
Main Methods:
- The Safe Passage Study was a large, prospective, international, multicenter study.
- Data included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to categorize risk.
- At-risk women were referred to a social worker (SW) for support.
Main Results:
- A 51% prevalence of prenatal depression was observed in 5,489 women.
- Only 14% of at-risk women attended SW appointments; 36% failed to attend after referral.
- At-risk women were younger, less educated, had lower income, and higher substance use; their infants had poorer outcomes.
Conclusions:
- High EPDS scores correlated with adverse socioeconomic factors and poorer infant growth.
- Women with the poorest socioeconomic conditions who missed appointments had infants with the worst birth outcomes.
Keywords:
Acceptance for referralBMIBirthweightDepressionMid upper arm circumferenceOne-year follow-upPregnancySmall-for-gestational ageSmoking and drinkingMore Related Videos
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