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. 2023 Nov 9:20:E103.
doi: 10.5888/pcd20.230107.

Timing of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Cheryl L Robbins  1 , Jean Y Ko  1   2 , Denise V D'Angelo  1 , Beatriz Salvesen von Essen  1   3 , Connie L Bish  1 , Charlan D Kroelinger  1 , Heather D Tevendale  1 , Lee Warner  1 , Wanda Barfield  1
Affiliations

Timing of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Cheryl L Robbins et al. Prev Chronic Dis. .

Abstract

Introduction: Postpartum depression is a serious public health problem that can adversely impact mother-child interactions. Few studies have examined depressive symptoms in the later (9-10 months) postpartum period.

Methods: We analyzed data from the 2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) linked with data from a telephone follow-up survey administered to PRAMS respondents 9 to 10 months postpartum in 7 states (N = 1,954). We estimated the prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) at 9 to 10 months overall and by sociodemographic characteristics, prior depression (before or during pregnancy), PDS at 2 to 6 months, and other mental health characteristics. We used unadjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) to examine associations between those characteristics and PDS at 9 to 10 months. We also examined prevalence and associations with PDS at both time periods.

Results: Prevalence of PDS at 9 to 10 months was 7.2%. Of those with PDS at 9 to 10 months, 57.4% had not reported depressive symptoms at 2 to 6 months. Prevalence of PDS at 9 to 10 months was associated with having Medicaid insurance postpartum (PR = 2.34; P = .001), prior depression (PR = 4.03; P <.001), and current postpartum anxiety (PR = 3.58; P <.001). Prevalence of PDS at both time periods was 3.1%. Of those with PDS at both time periods, 68.5% had prior depression.

Conclusion: Nearly 3 in 5 women with PDS at 9 to 10 months did not report PDS at 2 to 6 months. Screening for depression throughout the first postpartum year can identify women who are not symptomatic early in the postpartum period but later develop symptoms.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram showing how the final analytic sample for the PRAMS Call-Back Survey was derived. Abbreviations: PDS, postpartum depressive symptoms; PRAMS, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms at 2 to 6 months among women with and without postpartum depressive symptoms at 9 to 10 months. Because of missing data for the variable for postpartum depressive symptoms at 2 to 6 months, the number of respondents with and without PDS at 9 to 10 months (n = 1,928) is less than in the full analytic sample (n = 1,954).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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