Neighbourhood socioeconomic status modifies the association between anxiety and depression during pregnancy and preterm birth: a Community-based Canadian cohort study

Indirect Effects of Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Status on Preterm Birth Risk in an Argentine Population

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth (PTB) is the main condition related to perinatal morbimortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the indirect effects of neighbourhood socioeconomic status (NSES) on the risk of spontaneous PTB.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective case-control study including sociodemographic and obstetric data of multigravid women who gave birth at a maternity hospital in Tucumán, Argentina, between 2005 and 2010: 949 women without previous PTB nor pregnancy loss who delivered at term and 552 who had spontaneous PTB. NSES was estimated from the Unsatisfied Basic Needs index of census data. Variables selected through penalised regressions were used to create a data-driven Bayesian network; then, pathways were identified and mediation analyses performed.

RESULTS

Maternal age less than 20 years mediated part of the protective effect of high NSES on spontaneous PTB [natural indirect effect (NIE) -0.0125, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-0.0208, -0.0041)] and on few prenatal visits (< 5) [NIE - 0.0095, 95% CI (-0.0166, -0.0025)]. These pathways showed greater sensitivity to unobserved confounders that affect the variables mediator-outcome in the same direction, and exposure-mediator in the opposite direction. They did not show sensitivity to observed potential confounders, nor to the parameterization used to define NSES. Meanwhile, urinary tract infections showed a trend in mediating the effect of low NSES on spontaneous PTB [NIE 0.0044, 95% CI (-0.0006, 0.0093), P 0.0834].

CONCLUSIONS

High NSES has protective indirect effects on spontaneous PTB risk, mainly associated with a lower frequency of teenage pregnancy.

Association between multimorbidity of pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Multimorbidity (≥2 co-existing conditions) in pregnancy is a significant public health issue with a rising prevalence worldwide. However, the association between pregnancy multimorbidity and adverse birth outcomes is unclear. So, this review assessed the association between pregnancy-multimorbidity and adverse birth outcomes (preterm birth, abnormal birth weight, neonatal mortality, and stillbirth). Relevant peer-reviewed papers in PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier/ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were systematically search from January 1990 to March 2023. We used the random-effects model to calculate the multimorbidity pooled odds ratio, quantified heterogeneity using I2 statistics, and performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses in Stata version 17. The review protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023421336). The meta-analysis included 21 observational studies involving 6,523,741 pregnant women. The overall pooled odds of pregnancy multimorbidity associated with adverse birth outcomes were 3.11(2.14-4.09), 3.76(2.56-4.96) in Europe, 3.38(1.18-5.58) in North America, and 2.94(0.78-5.09) in Asia. Pregnant women with psychological and physical multimorbidity had increased odds of 5.65(1.71-9.59) and 2.75(1.71-9.58), respectively, for adverse birth outcomes. Pregnancy multimorbidity was associated with preterm birth 4.28(2.23-6.34), large gestational age (>90 percentile) 3.33(1.50-5.17), macrosomia (≥4000 g) 2.16(0.34-3.98), and small gestational age (<10th percentile) 3.52(1.54-5.51). There is substantial variance in the odds of pregnancy multimorbidity by type of comorbidity and type of adverse birth outcome, attributed to differences in the healthcare system by geographical location. Therefore, prioritizing pregnant women with multimorbidity is crucial for effective and integrative interventions.

Automated classification of lay health articles using natural language processing: a case study on pregnancy health and postpartum depression

Objective

Evidence suggests that high-quality health education and effective communication within the framework of social support hold significant potential in preventing postpartum depression. Yet, developing trustworthy and engaging health education and communication materials requires extensive expertise and substantial resources. In light of this, we propose an innovative approach that involves leveraging natural language processing (NLP) to classify publicly accessible lay articles based on their relevance and subject matter to pregnancy and mental health.

Materials and methods

We manually reviewed online lay articles from credible and medically validated sources to create a gold standard corpus. This manual review process categorized the articles based on their pertinence to pregnancy and related subtopics. To streamline and expand the classification procedure for relevance and topics, we employed advanced NLP models such as Random Forest, Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT), and Generative Pre-trained Transformer model (gpt-3.5-turbo).

Results

The gold standard corpus included 392 pregnancy-related articles. Our manual review process categorized the reading materials according to lifestyle factors associated with postpartum depression: diet, exercise, mental health, and health literacy. A BERT-based model performed best (F1 = 0.974) in an end-to-end classification of relevance and topics. In a two-step approach, given articles already classified as pregnancy-related, gpt-3.5-turbo performed best (F1 = 0.972) in classifying the above topics.

Discussion

Utilizing NLP, we can guide patients to high-quality lay reading materials as cost-effective, readily available health education and communication sources. This approach allows us to scale the information delivery specifically to individuals, enhancing the relevance and impact of the materials provided.

Women's Mental Health up to Eight Years after Childbirth and Associated Risk Factors: Longitudinal Findings from the All Our Families Cohort in Canada

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the prevalence of elevated maternal anxiety and/or depression symptoms up to eight years after childbirth and the association between role and relationship strains during parenting and mental health challenges from three to eight years after childbirth.

METHODS

This study used data from the All Our Families longitudinal pregnancy cohort. Role and relationship strain factors and anxiety and depression symptoms were measured at repeated time points from four months to eight years after childbirth. The proportion of women with elevated anxiety and/or depression was calculated at each available time point. Generalized estimating equation models were used to examine the association between role and relationship strain factors and anxiety and/or depression from three to eight years after childbirth. Predicted probability of having anxiety and/or depression was estimated across those with and without challenges with roles and relationships. The models were adjusted for known risk factors such as maternal income and perinatal anxiety and/or depression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of elevated anxiety and/or depression ranged from 18.8% (at four months) to 26.2% (at eight years). The adjusted odds ratio of anxiety and/or depression was 3.5 (95% CI = 2.9, 4.3) for those juggling family responsibilities and 2.4 (95% CI = 2.0, 3.0) for those with stressful partner relationship compared to their counterparts. Similarly, experiencing financial crunch and poor partner relationship were associated with increased mental health difficulties. Women without challenges in roles or relationships had a 23% lower predicted probability of anxiety and/or depression than those with the challenges.

CONCLUSIONS

Monitoring mothers for anxiety and depression beyond the postpartum period and strategies that address role and relationship challenges may be valuable to women at risk of anxiety and depression.

Effect of individual or comorbid antenatal depression and anxiety on birth outcomes and moderation by maternal traumatic experiences and resilience

Background

Although antenatal depression and anxiety (e.g., negative antenatal mental health; NAMH) are individually associated with preterm birth (PTB) and infant neurological impairment, few studies account for comorbidity. Understanding how NAMH impacts PTB and infant neurological functioning by either singular (depression or anxiety) or comorbid status, as well as the way in which these effects can be moderated by additional risk or protective factors (traumatic experiences and trait resiliency) can contribute further understanding of NAMH effects on birth outcomes.

Methods

The sample included 3042 mother-infant dyads from U.S. and South Africa cohorts of the Safe Passage Study (N = 3042). A four-category NAMH variable was created to categorize depression-only, anxiety-only, comorbid, or no NAMH statuses.

Results

There were no NAMH main effects on PTB, however, anxiety-only and comorbid NAMH increased odds of PTB for mothers with higher rates of traumatic life experiences. Anxiety-only and comorbid NAMH were associated with increased odds of newborn neurological impairment, and the effect of comorbid NAMH was stronger for mothers with higher rates of traumatic experiences. Resiliency decreased odds of neurological impairment for mothers who reported depression-only or anxiety-only NAMH.

Limitations

Limitations included potential artefacts of two cohorts that differed in rates of almost all variables, a single time point for measuring NAMH, and lack of pregnancy-specific NAMH measures.

Conclusions

Especially when compared to mothers with no NAMH, comorbidity or singular-condition NAMH statuses associate with negative birth outcomes in nuanced ways, especially when considering additional contexts that may foster or protect against NAMH.

Mediators of socioeconomic inequalities in preterm birth: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Rates of preterm birth are substantial with significant inequalities. Understanding the role of risk factors on the pathway from maternal socioeconomic status (SES) to preterm birth can help inform interventions and policy. This study therefore aimed to identify mediators of the relationship between maternal SES and preterm birth, assess the strength of evidence, and evaluate the quality of methods used to assess mediation.

METHODS

Using Scopus, Medline OVID, "Medline In Process & Other Non-Indexed Citation", PsycINFO, and Social Science Citation Index (via Web of Science), search terms combined variations on mediation, socioeconomic status, and preterm birth. Citation and advanced Google searches supplemented this. Inclusion criteria guided screening and selection of observational studies Jan-2000 to July-2020. The metric extracted was the proportion of socioeconomic inequality in preterm birth explained by each mediator (e.g. 'proportion eliminated'). Included studies were narratively synthesised.

RESULTS

Of 22 studies included, over one-half used cohort design. Most studies had potential measurement bias for mediators, and only two studies fully adjusted for key confounders. Eighteen studies found significant socioeconomic inequalities in preterm birth. Studies assessed six groups of potential mediators: maternal smoking; maternal mental health; maternal physical health (including body mass index (BMI)); maternal lifestyle (including alcohol consumption); healthcare; and working and environmental conditions. There was high confidence of smoking during pregnancy (most frequently examined mediator) and maternal physical health mediating inequalities in preterm birth. Significant residual inequalities frequently remained. Difference-of-coefficients between models was the most common mediation analysis approach, only six studies assessed exposure-mediator interaction, and only two considered causal assumptions.

CONCLUSIONS

The substantial socioeconomic inequalities in preterm birth are only partly explained by six groups of mediators that have been studied, particularly maternal smoking in pregnancy. There is, however, a large residual direct effect of SES evident in most studies. Despite the mediation analysis approaches used limiting our ability to make causal inference, these findings highlight potential ways of intervening to reduce such inequalities. A focus on modifiable socioeconomic determinants, such as reducing poverty and educational inequality, is probably necessary to address inequalities in preterm birth, alongside action on mediating pathways.

Factors Related to Psychological Distress in Multiparous Women in the First Trimester: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The birth rate in Taiwan has declined rapidly; thus, encouraging women to give birth is an important issue in the country. Pregnant women may experience psychological distress, which may negatively impact the health of children and mothers. Prenatal psychological distress is more common in multiparous women than in primiparous women. In addition, compared with that in the second and third trimesters, psychological distress in the first trimester is relatively high. Understanding psychological distress and the associated factors for multiparous women in the first trimester is important to providing early interventions and preventing subsequent maternal and child health problems.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to examine the important predictive factors related to depression, anxiety, and stress among Taiwanese multiparous women in the first trimester.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used. In all, 216 multiparous women at 16 weeks of pregnancy were recruited from three hospitals in Taiwan. Self-reported questionnaires were used to gather data on demographic characteristics, the parenting stress of motherhood, spousal support, and psychological distress. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with psychological distress.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in multiparous women was found to be 31.9%, 42.6%, and 11.1%, respectively. The multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the stress related to parent-child interaction was a significant predictor of depression and anxiety, the stress related to child-rearing was a significant predictor of anxiety, and low spousal instrumental support was a significant predictor of stress. The model respectively explained 30%, 27%, and 23% of the variance in depression, anxiety, and stress.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Reducing the stress related to parent-child interaction and child-rearing and encouraging spousal instrumental support should be considered during prenatal care when designing interventions to reduce the psychological distress of multiparous women in their first trimester.

What Role Does Hispanic/Latina Ethnicity Play in the Relationship Between Maternal Mental Health and Preterm Birth?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of prepregnancy and prenatal depression and/or anxiety on preterm birth (PTB), while also exploring Hispanic/Latina ethnicity as a potential effect modifier.

METHODS

Study population included respondents of UT-PRAMS (2016-2019). Associations between prepregnancy and prenatal depression and/or anxiety and PTB were evaluated using Poisson regression models accounting for stratified survey sampling.

RESULTS

Women with prepregnancy and prenatal depression and anxiety, compared to those without, had a 67 percent (95% CI: 19%, 134%) higher probability of experiencing PTB, after controlling for relevant sociodemographic, lifestyle, and reproductive history factors. Impact of depression on PTB was slightly higher than impact of anxiety. Hispanic/Latina ethnicity was found to protect against PTB for those with prepregnancy and prenatal depression alone (aPR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.24, 1.21) or both depression and anxiety (aPR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.40) compared to being non-Hispanic/Latina (aPR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.25, 2.55 for depression alone; aPR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.21 for depression and anxiety).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, Utah women reporting prepregnancy and prenatal depression and anxiety were more likely to have a PTB. Being of Hispanic/Latina ethnicity was found to mitigate the risk of PTB among women with depression and anxiety.

IMPLICATIONS

Prepregnancy and prenatal mental health screenings and treatment are key to lessening the impacts of depression and anxiety on both mother and infant. Hispanic/Latina ethnicity may be protective against PTB among women experiencing mental distress. Whether this is through increased social support or through a different mechanism should be explored in future research.

Data harmonization and data pooling from cohort studies: a practical approach for data management

Data pooling from pre-existing datasets can be useful to increase study sample size and statistical power in order to answer a research question. However, individual datasets may contain variables that measure the same construct differently, posing challenges for data pooling. Variable harmonization, an approach that can generate comparable datasets from heterogeneous sources, can address this issue in some circumstances. As an illustrative example, this paper describes the data harmonization strategies that helped generate comparable datasets across two Canadian pregnancy cohort studies: All Our Families; and the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition. Variables were harmonized considering multiple features across the datasets: the construct measured; question asked/response options; the measurement scale used; the frequency of measurement; timing of measurement, and the data structure. Completely matching, partially matching, and completely un-matching variables across the datasets were determined based on these features. Variables that were an exact match were pooled as is. Partially matching variables were harmonized or processed under a common format across the datasets considering the frequency of measurement, the timing of measurement, the measurement scale used, and response options. Variables that were completely unmatching could not be harmonized into a single variable. The variable harmonization strategies that were used to generate comparable cohort datasets for data pooling are applicable to other data sources. Future studies may employ or evaluate these strategies, which permit researchers to answer novel research questions in a statistically efficient, timely, and cost-efficient manner that could not be achieved using a single data source.

Comorbid Anxiety and Depression and Related Factors Among Pregnant and Postpartum Chinese Women During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Objective: To identify the prevalence of comorbid anxiety and depression (CAD) and analyze the relationship between CAD and sociodemographic and obstetric-related variables in pregnant and postpartum Chinese women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants were 2,237 pregnant and postpartum women (aged 19-47 years) who visited various medical institutions in China between February 28, 2020, and April 26, 2020. They were asked to complete an online survey assessing the anxiety and depression, obstetric characteristics, and sociodemographic variables. The women were grouped into the following categories in accordance with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9): (a) CAD, (b) "anxiety only," (c) "depression only," and (d) "no depression or anxiety." After estimating the prevalence of CAD, "anxiety only," and "depression only," we carried out chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analysis to examine the related factors between these groups of pregnant and postpartum Chinese women. Results: Comorbid anxiety and depression, "anxiety only," and "depression only," occurred in 6.3, 5.8, and 3.9% of participants, respectively. The prevalence rates of CAD during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy and the postpartum period were found to be 7.4, 6.5, 5.7, and 8.2%, respectively. The factors that differed among the groups were age (p < 0.05), marital status (p < 0.001), level of education (p < 0.05), family support (p < 0.001), and total live births (p < 0.001). "Poor family support" (odds ratio (OR): 1.90; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30-2.78; p = 0.0009) and "no birth" (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.32-2.75; p = 0.0006) remained significant factors for the CAD group, while "poor family support" (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.34-3.47; p = 0.0015) remained a significant factor for the "depression only" group when their results were compared to those of the "no depression or anxiety" group in the multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Pregnant and postpartum Chinese women with poor family support and primipara are at high risk for CAD during the COVID-19 pandemic. These results support the need for targeted perinatal programs to address CAD in pregnant and postpartum women during the pandemic period.

Preterm birth and social support services for prenatal depression and social determinants

Preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks gestation), is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity. Among those born preterm, risk increases as gestational age at birth decreases. Psychosocial factors such as depression symptoms and social determinants of health (SDH) may increase risk for PTB. Research is needed to understand these risk factors and identify effective interventions. This retrospective cohort study recruited English- and Spanish-speaking women presenting symptoms of preterm labor or admitted for PTB from an urban county hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area (n = 47). We used an iterative analytic approach by which qualitative data informed an exploratory quantitative analysis. Key exposures were presence of self-reported depression symptoms during pregnancy, SDH along eight domains, and receipt of behavioral health services. The outcome was gestational age at birth. T-tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and linear regression models were used to test associations between the exposures and gestational age. Most participants were Black (25.5%) or Latina (59.6%). After adjusting for covariates, participants with depression symptoms had an average gestational age 3.1 weeks shorter (95% CI: -5.02, -1.20) than women reporting no symptoms. After adjusting for covariates, high number of adverse social determinants (≥ 4) suggested an association with shorter gestational age (p = 0.07, 1.65 weeks, 95% CI: -3.44, 0.14). Receipt of behavioral health services was associated with a significantly later gestational age; the median difference was 5.5 weeks longer for depression symptoms, 3.5 weeks longer for high social determinants, and 6 weeks longer for depression symptoms and high social determinants. Among a cohort of high-risk pregnant women, both depression symptoms during pregnancy and co-occurring with exposure to high adverse SDH are associated with shorter gestational age at birth, after controlling for psychosocial factors. Receipt of behavioral health services may be an effective intervention to address disparities in PTB.

Health-related quality of life in different trimesters during pregnancy

Background

Pregnant women experience physical, physiological, and mental changes. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a relevant indicator of psychological and physical behaviours, changing over the course of pregnancy. This study aims to assess HRQoL of pregnant women during different stages of pregnancy.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed using the The EuroQoL Group’s five-dimension five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) to assess the HRQoL of pregnant women, and demographic data were collected. This study was conducted in a regional university hospital in Guangzhou, China.

Results

A total of 908 pregnant women were included in this study. Pregnant women in the early 2^nd trimester had the highest HRQoL. The HRQoL of pregnant women rose from the 1st trimester to the early 2nd trimester, and dropped to the bottom at the late 3rd trimester due to some physical and mental changes. Reports of pain/discomfort problem were the most common (46.0%) while self-care were the least concern. More than 10% of pregnant women in the 1st trimester had health-related problems in at least one dimension of whole five dimensions. In the whole sample, the EuroQoL Group’s visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) was 87.86 ± 9.16. Across the gestational stages, the HRQoL remained stable during the pregnancy but the highest value was observed in the 1st trimester (89.65 ± 10.13) while the lowest was in the late 3rd trimester (87.28 ± 9.13).

Conclusions

During pregnancy, HRQoL were associated with gestational trimesters in a certain degree. HRQoL was the highest in the early 2nd trimester and then decreased to the lowest in the late 3rd trimester due to a series of physical and psychological changes. Therefore, obstetric doctors and medical institutions should give more attention and care to pregnant women in the late 3rd trimester.

Association of Stress-Related Factors With Anxiety Among Chinese Pregnant Participants in an Online Crisis Intervention During COVID-19 Epidemic

Background: Previous systematic review indicated the prevalence of prenatal anxiety as 14–54%. Pregnant women are a high-risk population for COVID-19. However, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and related factors is unknown in Chinese pregnant women during COVID-19 outbreak.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and the related factors in Chinese pregnant women who were attending crisis intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The data of this cross-sectional study were collected in about 2 months (February 28 to April 26, 2020). Data analysis was performed from April to May 2020. Participants completed a set of questionnaires via the Wechat Mini-program before starting the online self-help crisis intervention for COVID-19 epidemic. A total of 2,120 Chinese pregnant women who were attending a self-help crisis intervention participated in this study. A survey was developed to address possible stress-related factors in pregnant women during the COVID-19 outbreak, including demographic, socioeconomic, and pregnancy-related factors, as well as COVID-19 related factors. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and the 10-item perceived stress scale were, respectively, employed to measure anxiety and stress-related factors.

Results: A total of 21.7% (459) of pregnant women reported at least mild anxiety (≥5 on the GAD-7 scale), and only 82 women reported moderate to severe anxiety (≥10 on the GAD-7 scale). Factors associated with at least mild anxiety included living in Hubei province (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.32–2.13), nobody providing everyday life support (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.18–2.77), pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.32–2.09), and higher perceived stress (OR = 6.87, 95% CI = 5.42–9.02). Having relatives or neighbors with a diagnosis of COVID-19 was not associated with anxiety (p > 0.05).

Conclusions and Relevance: Our findings indicate that evaluation and intervention for maternal and infant health are necessary in pregnant women with anxiety during COVID-19 epidemic, especially those with higher perceived stress, less everyday life support, or vaginal bleeding. Interactions among these related medical, social and psychological factors need to be investigated in future studies.

Antepartum Depression and Preterm Birth: Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, and Disparities due to structural racism

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Informed by the evidence of links between physiology of stress and parturition, we review recent epidemiologic evidence (2015-2020) of antenatal depression as a risk factor for preterm birth (PTB). We also explain racial/ethnic disparities in depression and preterm birth as a consequence of structural racism.

RECENT FINDINGS

Epidemiologic evidence is consistent in linking antepartum depression with an elevated risk of PTB. Antidepressant usage has been linked with an elevated risk of PTB. However, recent evidence suggests that severity of depression is the underlying driver of the elevated risk attributed to antidepressant usage. The number of depressive symptoms, as a proxy for severity of maternal stress, may be a more informative predictor of PTB than criterion based predictors. Across various study designs, measurement modalities, and populations, antenatal depression predicts an elevated risk of delivering preterm. The physiology of stress provides a plausible explanation for this observation. Excessive stress-induced elevations in maternal and then fetal HPA hormones can alter maternal and fetal homeostasis and hasten the timing of parturition. Antenatal depression and exposure to structural racism are two stressors that can trigger the maternal stress response. Chronically elevated levels of stress hormones among women of color in the USA provide a likely physiologic explanation for Black-White disparities in the risk of PTB. Focusing on the number of depressive symptoms as the more informative predictor of PTB raises several questions. We consider these questions as well as directions for future research in the context of recent advances in the field.

Depression during pregnancy and the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction- an updated meta-analysis

AIM

Depression during pregnancy is a significant cause of adverse birth outcomes, and its prevalence has increased in recent years. This study aimed to give an updated quantification of the risk of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) that is associated with antenatal depression.

METHOD

The search was done in different databases, including Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed, from January 2010 to March 2020, and only English-language articles were considered. We only included studies that assessed depression during pregnancy and those that reported data on antenatal depression with at least one adverse birth outcome (PTB, LBW, or IUGR). The quality of studies was assessed using an adaptation of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale assessment tool. The analysis was conducted using STATA (version 12), pooled effect sizes were calculated using the random-effects model and heterogeneity was tested for using the I² statistic.

RESULTS

The analysis included 23 studies of PTB, LBW and IUGR. There was a significant risk of PTB (RR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.19-1.52), LBW (RR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.32-2.62) and IUGR (RR = 4.39, 95% CI 2.45-7.86). Control for confounders, time of assessing depression, among others altered the risk of LBW due to depression. In addition, depressed women in developing countries had a higher risk of PTB (RR = 2.07, 95% CI 1.13-3.81).

CONCLUSION

This study identifies a significant risk of PTB, LBW and IUGR due to antennal depression and recognises a need for targeted preventive interventions such as prompt screening to improve and promote maternal mental health care.