Prevalence and associated risk factors of prenatal depression underdiagnosis: A population-based study

Abstract

Objective: To estimate prenatal depression underdiagnosis prevalence and its associated sociodemographic and obstetric risk factors among a population-based sample of Brazilian pregnant women with depression.

Methods: We used data from the Brazilian National Survey (PNS 2013). Of the 22 445 women of reproductive age, 800 reported being pregnant. Participants answered the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and a questionnaire with sociodemographic, obstetric, and clinical data. Classification of prenatal depression underdiagnosis was made using the comparison between results obtained from the self-referred question evaluating clinical diagnosis of depression and the results of the PHQ-9. Pregnant women with a PHQ-9 score greater than 8 and with a "No" answer in the clinical question were classified as prenatal depression underdiagnosis. Logistic regression models were performed to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) between variables and prenatal depression underdiagnosis.

Results: Prevalence of prenatal depression underdiagnosis was 82.3% (74.8%-87.8%). Pregnant women with non-white skin color and pregnant women with an elementary school degree were more likely to be underdiagnosed with prenatal depression in comparison with women with white skin color (adjusted OR 2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-5.91) and with women with higher education (adjusted OR 4.07, 95% CI 2.05-8.09).

Conclusion: Equitable mental health assistance for pregnant women should considered prenatal depression social risk factors.

Keywords: depressive symptoms; prenatal care; prenatal depression; screening; underdiagnosis.