Effect of Postpartum Depression on Infant Safety Practices in Korea

To describe the prevalence of postpartum depression in a sample of Korean women and to examine the effect of postpartum depression on their adoption of safety practices for their infants.

Secondary, cross-sectional.

South Korea.

A total of 3,127 women who gave birth in 2020.

We applied a complex sample design analysis using the national survey data on postpartum care in South Korea. We analyzed the data using weighted multivariate logistic regression to determine the association between postpartum depression and the adoption of five safety practices for infants.

A total 42.7% (n = 1,319) of our participants had symptoms of postpartum depression during the initial 7 days after birth. Participants who had postpartum depression were less likely to engage in certain safety practices for infants.

We propose a proactive approach to promote an improved policy for postpartum depression screening alongside a comprehensive program that offers guidance and education to mothers suffering with postpartum depression. The primary objective is to empower these mothers with essential skills that can effectively ensure the safety of their infants.