Prevalence of Maternal Depressive Symptoms in Canada during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among persons who gave birth in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify the factors associated with these symptoms.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and April 2021 across Canada. Persons who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic were recruited through social media sites and completed an online survey. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

The survey was initiated by 4828 persons, and 3817 participants were included in the analysis. The mean EPDS score was 10.41 (SD = 5.66). Almost one-half (47.5%) of the participants showed a high level of depressive symptoms (EPDS ≥11). Participants in Atlantic (52.5%) and Eastern (51.2%) Canada were more likely to have depressive symptoms compared with those in the Prairie region (45.2%) and Western Canada (41.2%) (P < 0.001). The risk of depressive symptoms was higher among participants who gave birth earlier in the pandemic and among those who were more socioeconomically disadvantaged.

This study shows that a substantial proportion of participants had high levels of depressive symptoms and that participants with older infants and those living in Atlantic and Eastern Canada had higher mean EPDS scores. Assessment of maternal mental health is important during times of societal disruptions such as pandemics. Proactive mental health assessment and support should be provided to all postpartum persons, especially those with lower socioeconomic and educational resources.