No association between antenatal common mental disorders in low-obstetric risk women and adverse birth outcomes in their offspring: results from the CDS study in Ghana and Côte D'Ivoire

Depression, anxiety, and stress and adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with history of recurrent pregnancy loss in Nigeria

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether pregnant women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are more likely to experience moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, or stress symptoms than pregnant women without a history of RPL. The secondary purpose was to determine whether women with prior RPL experienced more unfavorable pregnancy outcomes if they had depression, anxiety, or stress.

METHODS

A prospective case-control study was conducted that included 47 pregnant women with a history of RPL and 94 pregnant women without prior RPL. Participants 20 weeks of gestation or earlier were included. Both groups completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and were followed up until delivery to determine the pregnancy outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes.

RESULT

Among the 47 women with prior RPL, 10 had primary RPL (two or more miscarriages without a successful pregnancy) and 37 secondary RPL (two or more miscarriages with a history of successful pregnancy). RPL was significantly associated with moderate-to-severe levels of depression (P < .001), anxiety (P < .001), and stress (P < .001). Among the RPL group, high stress level was significantly associated with repeat miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.28, 95%CI = 1.25-100.0, P = .03) and preterm labor (AOR = 6.07, 95%CI = 1.61-100.0, P = .04). Depression and anxiety were not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Pregnant women with a history of RPL had considerably higher rates of moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, and stress. Repeat miscarriage and preterm labor were considerably higher among pregnant women with RPL who were experiencing high stress levels at baseline.

Prevalence of Perinatal Anxiety and Related Disorders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Importance

Anxiety disorders are associated with poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. Women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are thought to be disproportionally burdened by these disorders, yet their prevalence is unclear.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of 6 anxiety and related disorders among perinatal women in LMICs.

Data Sources

Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception until September 7, 2023.

Study Selection

Studies conducted in World Bank-defined LMICs and reporting prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, or adjustment disorder during the perinatal period (conception to 12 months post partum) using a validated method were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guideline. Study eligibility, extracted data, and risk of bias of included studies were assessed by 2 independent reviewers. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled point prevalence. Subgroup analyses were performed by specific anxiety disorder.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Main outcomes were prevalence estimates of each anxiety disorder, measured as percentage point estimates and corresponding 95% CIs.

Results

At total of 10 617 studies were identified, 203 of which met the inclusion criteria and reported the outcomes of 212 318 women from 33 LMICs. Generalized anxiety disorder was the most reported (184 studies [90.6%]) and most prevalent disorder at 22.2% (95% CI, 19.4%-25.0%; n = 173 553). Posttraumatic stress disorder was the second most prevalent (8.3%; 95% CI, 5.0%-12.2%; 33 studies; n = 22 452). Adjustment disorder was least prevalent (2.9%; 95% CI, 0.0%-14.1%; 2 studies; n = 475). The prevalence of generalized anxiety varied by country income status, with the highest prevalence among lower-middle-income countries (27.6%; 95% CI, 21.6%-33.9%; 59 studies; n = 25 109), followed by low-income (24.0%; 95% CI, 15.3%-33.8%; 11 studies; n = 4961) and upper-middle-income (19.1%; 95% CI, 16.0%-22.4%; 110 studies; n = 138 496) countries.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that 1 in 5 women living in LMICs experience anxiety disorders during pregnancy and post partum. Targeted action is needed to reduce this high burden.

Risks of adverse perinatal outcomes in relation to maternal depressive symptoms: A prospective cohort study in Kenya

BACKGROUND

Evidence gaps remain regarding the influence of prenatal psychosocial factors on adverse pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to evaluate relationships between psychosocial factors and adverse perinatal outcomes among Kenyan women.

METHODS

We analysed data from a prospective cohort study enrolling HIV-negative women in pregnancy (NCT03070600) in 20 antenatal clinics in Western Kenya. Study nurses assessed depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), social support using the Medical Outcomes Survey scale (MOS-SSS), intimate partner violence (IPV) with the Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream scale (HITS), and pregnancy outcomes at 6 weeks postpartum. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate relationships between depressive symptoms (moderate-to-severe [MSD, CESD-10 ≥10] and mild-to-severe [Mild-SD, CESD-10 ≥5]), low social support (MOS-SSS <72), and IPV (HITS ≥10) with adverse perinatal outcomes of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age, and neonatal mortality. We also estimated the population attributable risk.

RESULTS

Among 4153 women, 23.9% (n = 994) had MSD, 54.7% (n = 2273) mild-SD, 37.3% (n = 1550) low social support, and 7.8% (n = 323) experienced IPV. Pregnancy loss was 5-fold higher among women with MSD (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 5.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.44, 10.42); 37.4% of losses were attributable to MSD. Mild-SD was associated with PTB (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.03, 1.87). Stillbirth risk more than doubled among women reporting low social support (HR 2.37, 95% CI 1.14, 4.94).

CONCLUSIONS

Adverse perinatal outcomes were common and associated with prenatal depressive symptoms and low social support in this large cohort of Kenyan mother-infant pairs.

Trajectories of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and risk of premature birth: A multicenter and prospective cohort study

Previous studies only assessed the association between depressive symptoms and risk of preterm birth (PTB) at a time-point during pregnancy, resulting in inconsistent or contradictory results. Therefore, we aimed to explore the associations between the trajectories of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and risk of PTB. In total, 7732 pregnant women were included in 24 hospitals from 15 provinces of China. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms in the first, second, and third trimesters. Associations between depressive symptoms and risk of PTB were performed by group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM), propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and logistic regression. GBTM identified five trajectories: compared with persistently low-stable trajectory of depressive symptoms, women with moderate-stable (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.02-1.76), high-falling (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.11-2.21), moderate-rising (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.06-2.04), and high-stable trajectory of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.16-3.28) had an increased risk of PTB. In addition, the associations between trajectories of depressive symptoms and risk of PTB were most significant in multiparous women with a history of PTB. There was no difference in the risk of early-moderate PTB among different trajectories of depressive symptoms and only the risk of late PTB was different among different trajectories. In conclusion, the depressive symptoms of pregnant women were not constant during pregnancy, and different trajectories of depressive symptoms were associated with different risks of PTB.

Screening for Resistant Bacteria, Antimicrobial Resistance Genes, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Schistosoma spp. in Tissue Samples from Predominantly Vaginally Delivered Placentae in Ivory Coast and Ghana

Medical complications during pregnancy have been frequently reported from Western Africa with a particular importance of infectious complications. Placental tissue can either become the target of infectious agents itself, such as, e.g., in the case of urogenital schistosomiasis, or be subjected to contamination with colonizing or infection-associated microorganisms of the cervix or the vagina during vaginal delivery. In the retrospective cross-sectional assessment presented here, the quantitative dimension of infection or colonization with selected resistant or pathogenic bacteria and parasites was regionally assessed. To do so, 274 collected placental tissues from Ivory Coastal and Ghanaian women were subjected to selective growth of resistant bacteria, as well as to molecular screening for beta-lactamase genes, Schistosoma spp. and selected bacterial causative agents of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Panton-Valentine-negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was grown from 1.8% of the tissue samples, comprising the spa types t008 and t688, as well as the newly detected ones, t12101 (n = 2) and t12102. While the culture-based recovery of resistant Enterobacterales and nonfermentative rod-shaped Gram-negative bacteria failed, molecular assessments confirmed beta-lactamase genes in 31.0% of the samples with multiple detections of up to four resistance genes per sample and blaCTX-M, blaIMP, blaGES, blaVIM, blaOXA-58-like, blaNDM, blaOXA-23-like, blaOXA-48-like and blaKPC occurring in descending order of frequency. The beta-lactamase genes blaOXA-40/24-like, blaNMC_A/IMI, blaBIC, blaSME, blaGIM and blaDIM were not detected. DNA of the urogenital schistosomiasis-associated Schistosoma haematobium complex was recorded in 18.6% of the samples, but only a single positive signal for S. mansoni with a high cycle-threshold value in real-time PCR was found. Of note, higher rates of schistosomiasis were observed in Ghana (54.9% vs. 10.3% in Ivory Coast) and Cesarean section was much more frequent in schistosomiasis patients (61.9% vs. 14.8% in women without Schistosoma spp. DNA in the placenta). Nucleic acid sequences of nonlymphogranuloma-venereum-associated Chlamydia trachomatis and of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were recorded in 1.1% and 1.9% of the samples, respectively, while molecular attempts to diagnose Treponema pallidum and Mycoplasma genitalium did not lead to positive results. Molecular detection of Schistosoma spp. or STI-associated pathogens was only exceptionally associated with multiple resistance gene detections in the same sample, suggesting epidemiological distinctness. In conclusion, the assessment confirmed considerable prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis and resistant bacterial colonization, as well as a regionally expected abundance of STI-associated pathogens. Continuous screening offers seem advisable to minimize the risks for the pregnant women and their newborns.

Influence of perinatal distress on adverse birth outcomes: A prospective study in the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

In low-income countries, where socioeconomic adversities and perinatal distress are common, adverse birth outcomes are significant public health problems. In these settings, perinatal distress, i.e., high symptoms of anxiety, depression, and/or stress during pregnancy, may be linked with adverse birth outcomes. However, few prospective studies have investigated the impact of perinatal distress on adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks), low birth weight (<2.5 kg), and small for gestational age birth (birth weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age and sex).

OBJECTIVES

Our main objective was to assess the influence of perinatal distress on adverse birth outcomes. Secondly, to investigate if perinatal distress is an independent risk factor or a mediator in the pathway between socioeconomic adversity and adverse birth outcomes.

METHODS

In a prospective cohort study following 991 women from before 20 weeks of gestation until delivery in northern Ethiopia, we collected self-reported data on distress at a mean of 14.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.9) and 33.9 (SD = 1.1) weeks of gestation. Distress was measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. To determine birth outcomes, gestational age was estimated from the last menstrual period, fundal palpation, and/or ultrasound, while birth weight was obtained from delivery records and measured within three days after birth for those delivered at home. Logistic regression and mediation analysis were employed to evaluate the impact of perinatal distress on adverse birth outcomes.

RESULTS

Perinatal anxiety (OR [95% CI] 1.08 [1.02, 1.13]), depression (1.07 [1.03, 1.11]), stress (1.14 [1.07, 1.22]), and total distress (1.15 [1.07, 1.23]) were all associated with low birth weight, and small for gestational age birth but none did with preterm birth. Mediation analysis demonstrated that perinatal distress was a mediator in the pathway between socioeconomic adversity and adverse birth outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that perinatal distress was linked with adverse birth outcomes and acted as a mediator between socioeconomic adversity and these outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of screening women for distress and providing appropriate interventions, focusing on women experiencing socioeconomic adversity. Integrating mental health services into primary maternal care in low-income countries could be an effective approach to achieve this.

Perceptions and experiences of prenatal mental health: A qualitative study among pregnant women in Ghana

Prenatal mental health problems can have adverse effects on the health and wellbeing of the mother as well as her baby. However, the factors associated with its etiology, expression, and coping mechanisms in Ghana remain understudied. This qualitative study explored the perceptions and experiences of prenatal mental health problems among 21 pregnant women in Accra through semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis led to three dominant themes; "conceptions of prenatal mental disorders" (sub-themes: awareness and constructions of prenatal mental health problems), "experiences of mental health problems" (sub-themes: symptoms of prenatal mental health problems and causal attributions of prenatal mental health problems) and "coping mechanisms of the pregnancy experience" (subthemes: faith, social support and work). The lack of knowledge of mental health disorders in this study and the expression of contextually relevant and culturally defined constructions and experiences of prenatal mental health problems, highlight the need for the development of culturally suitable interventions within the Ghanaian context.

Are pre- and early pregnancy lifestyle factors associated with the risk of preterm birth? A secondary cohort analysis of the cluster-randomised GeliS trial

Background

Maternal lifestyle is discussed as a modifiable determinant in the prevention of preterm birth. However, previous research on associations between individual lifestyle factors and preterm birth risk is inconclusive. In this secondary analysis, we investigated the associations between several modifiable antenatal lifestyle factors and the odds of preterm birth.

Methods

This secondary cohort analysis used data from the cluster-randomised controlled “healthy living in pregnancy” (GeliS) trial. Data were collected from early pregnancy to birth with maternity records, validated questionnaires and birth protocols. Women with complete datasets for all covariates were eligible for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for recognised risk factors, were fitted to determine whether dietary quality, assessed with a healthy eating index (HEI), physical activity (PA) levels and antenatal anxiety/distress influenced the odds of preterm birth. Moreover, the combined association between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and HEI on the odds of preterm birth was explored. The independent associations of individual dietary components and types of PA on prematurity were assessed by adjusted logistic regression models.

Results

Overall, 1738 women were included in the analysis. A low HEI significantly increased the odds of preterm birth (OR 1.54 (CI 1.04 – 2.30), p = 0.033), while no associations with either low PA levels or antenatal anxiety/distress were observed. BMI significantly interacted with HEI on the association with prematurity (p = 0.036). Energy % from protein and the intake of average portions of vegetables and cereals were significantly negatively associated with the odds of preterm birth. There was no significant evidence of an association between different types of PA and prematurity.

Conclusions

This cohort analysis revealed that low dietary quality in early pregnancy may increase the chance of giving birth prematurely, while healthier dietary choices may help to prevent preterm birth. More research on pre- and early pregnancy modifiable lifestyle factors is warranted.

Trial registration

This trial is registered with the Clinical Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01958307). Registration date 09 October 2013, retrospectively registered.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04513-5.

Prevalence, associated factors and perinatal outcomes of antepartum depression in Ibadan Nigeria

Background

Antepartum depression is the most common mental health disorder in pregnancy and it is also a risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. Low and middle income countries like Nigeria bear a higher burden of antepartum depression compared with high income countries. Prioritizing mental health issues among pregnant women is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We determined the prevalence, associated factors and perinatal outcomes of antepartum depression among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted among 1745 pregnant women enrolled early in pregnancy (≤ 20 weeks) at four comprehensive obstetric facilities within Ibadan metropolis. Antepartum depression was ascertained during the third trimester using the Edinburg Postpartum Depression Scale ≥ 12. The primary exposure was antepartum depression and the outcome variables were the perinatal outcomes. The associated factors assessed included sociodemographic, obstetric, psychological, and lifestyle characteristics. Bi-variate logistic and Poisson regression analyses were used to assess the factors and relative risk for perinatal outcomes of antepartum depression.

Results

The prevalence of antepartum depression was 14.1%. The significant factors associated with APD after adjusting for confounders were: high income (≥ 20, 000) which was protective (AOR) = 0.59; 95% CI: (0.40 – 0.88); p-value: 0.010] and perceived stress increased the odds of APD in a monotonic fashion: moderate stress [AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: (1.01 – 5.7); p-value: 0.047], high stress [AOR = 6.43; 95% CI: (2.28 – 18.2); p-value: < 0.001]. Preterm delivery was the only significant perinatal outcome [Relative Risk (RR) = 1.66; 95% CI (1.14 – 2.39); p-value =  0.007]. Depression did not increase the risk of having low birth weight babies (p = 0.513), macrosomia (p = 0.894), birth asphyxia (p = 0.317), and caesarean section (p = 0.298).

Conclusions

APD was prevalent among our study population. The significant factors identified in this study can be targeted to reduce the occurrence of APD among pregnant women in Nigeria through appropriate social and public health interventions which include APD screening, counselling, and the provision of emotional support for pregnant women during antenatal care.

Effect of perinatal depression on birth and infant health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies from Africa

Background

Antenatal depression is associated with intrauterine growth retardation, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Infants born to mothers with postnatal depression also may suffer from malnutrition and other health problems. Even though there are few single studies conducted so far, a systematic review of these studies is highly important to highlight the effect of antenatal and perinatal depression on adverse birth and infant health outcomes in Africa.

Methods

We used the Preferred Report Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) when conducting this study. Databases like CINAHL (EBSCO), MEDLINE (via Ovid and PubMed), PsycINFO, Emcare, Psychiatry Online, and Scopus were searched. In addition, Google Scholar and references from a list of eligible studies were explored. We included good quality observational studies based on Newcastle Ottawa Scale which are published in the English language between 2007 and 2018.  Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Meta-analysis with a random effect model was employed to determine the pooled effect sizes with a 95% confidence interval. The review protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018106714).

Result

We found three studies (1511 participants) and 11 studies (22,254 participants) conducted on the effect of antenatal depression on birth outcomes and perinatal depression on adverse infant health outcomes, respectively. The overall risk of having adverse birth outcomes was 2.26 (95% CI: 1.43, 3.58) times higher among pregnant mothers with depression. The risk of preterm birth and low birth weight was 1.77 (95% CI: 1.03, 3.04) and 2.98 (95% CI: 1.60, 5.55) respectively. Similarly, the risk of having adverse infant health outcomes namely malnutrition and febrile illness was 1.61 (95% CI: 1.34, 1.95) times higher among mothers who had perinatal depression.

Conclusions

We have found a significant association between antenatal depression and adverse birth outcomes, low birth weight and preterm birth. Similarly, a significant effect of perinatal depression on adverse infant health outcomes namely, malnutrition, and febrile illnesses was observed. The findings highlight that it is time to integrate mental health services with routine maternal health care services to improve birth outcomes and reduce infant morbidity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13690-022-00792-8.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms in pregnancy predict low birth weight differentially in male and female infants-findings from an urban pregnancy cohort in India

PURPOSE

This study examined the contributions of antenatal anxiety, depression, and partner violence to low birth weight (LBW) in infants and to sex-specific birth weight outcomes among mothers from a cohort in urban India.

METHODS

Data from 700 mothers from the PRAMMS cohort (Prospective Assessment of Maternal Mental Health Study) were used. Pregnant women were assessed in each trimester-T1, T2 and T3, for symptoms of anxiety, and depression as well as partner violence. Multivariate analyses were performed for the whole sample and then for male and female infants separately. The final multivariable logistic regression models were each built using a backward selection procedure and controlling for confounders. To accommodate longitudinally measured data, change in scores (T2-T1 and T3-T2) of anxiety and depression were included in the model.

RESULTS

Of the 583 women with a singleton live birth, birth weight was available for 514 infants  and LBW was recorded in 80 infants (15.6%). Of these, 23 infants were preterm. Overall, higher T1 Depression scores (OR: 1.11; 95% CI 1.040, 1.187) and an increase in both Depression scores (OR: 1.12; 95% CI 1.047, 1.195) from T1 to T2 and Anxiety scores (OR: 1.32; 95% CI 1.079, 1.603) between T2 and T3 were predictors of LBW. Female infants had a higher chance of LBW with increase in maternal anxiety between T1-T2 (OR: 1.69; 95% CI 1.053, 2.708) and T2-T3 (OR: 1.49; 95% CI 1.058, 2.086); partner violence during pregnancy just failed to reach conventional statistical significance (OR: 2.48; 95% CI 0.810, 7.581) in girls. Male infants had a higher chance of LBW with higher baseline depression scores at T1 (OR: 1.23; 95% CI 1.042, 1.452) and an increase in depression scores (OR: 1.25; 95% CI 1.060, 1.472) from T1 to T2.

CONCLUSION

Increasing prenatal anxiety and depressive symptoms in different trimesters of pregnancy were associated with LBW with sex-specific patterns of association in this sample from a Low and Middle Income Country.

Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders among pregnant women-Evidence from population-based study in rural Haryana, India

Background:

Mental disorders during pregnancy is one of the major public health problem because of its effect on both mother and child.

Objectives:

The objective of the study was to assess the burden of common mental disorders (CMDs) among pregnant women in rural Haryana, North India.

Methods:

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 28 villages of rural Haryana in 2016. Pregnant women in the study area with period of gestation 25–34 weeks were enrolled and assessed for presence of CMDs in two phases. Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders—Patient Health Questionnaire was used for screening and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for diagnosis of CMDs.

Results:

A total of 457 pregnant women were included in the study. Mean age of pregnant women was 23.9 years (SD- 3.9). Prevalence of CMDs was 15.3% (95% CI, 12.0–18.6). Of these, major depression was 2.8% (95% CI, 1.4– 4.4), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder was 15.1% (95% CI, 11.8–18.4) as per MINI. On multivariate analysis, no statistically significant association was found between CMDs during pregnancy with any obstetric, sociodemographic determinants, and child health outcomes.

Conclusion:

High prevalence of CMDs, especially anxiety, observed among pregnant women in rural area necessitates the need for integration of screening of CMDs during routine antenatal care in India.

Antenatal depressive symptoms and adverse perinatal outcomes

Background

The association of antenatal depression with adverse pregnancy, birth, and postnatal outcomes has been an item of scientific interest over the last decades. However, the evidence that exists is controversial or limited. We previously found that one in five women in Kuwait experience antenatal depressive symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether antenatal depressive symptoms are associated with preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), or large for gestational age (LGA) babies in this population.

Methods

This was a secondary analysis based on data collected in the Transgenerational Assessment of Children’s Environmental Risk (TRACER) Study that was conducted in Kuwait. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine whether antenatal depressive symptoms assessed using the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) were associated with preterm birth, small for gestational age, and large for gestational age babies.

Results

A total of 1694 women had complete information about the outcomes of interest. Women with depressive symptoms in pregnancy had increased, albeit non-significant, odds of having PTB (OR = 1.41; 95%CI: 0.81, 2.45), SGA babies (OR = 1.26; 0.80, 1.98), or LGA babies (OR = 1.27; 0.90, 1.79). Antenatal depressive symptoms had similar increased odds for the three outcomes even after adjusting for several covariates though none of these reached statistical significance.

Conclusions

In the present study, the depressive symptoms in pregnancy did not predict adverse birth outcomes, such as PTB, SGA, and LGA, which adds to the currently non-conclusive literature. However, further research is needed to examine these associations, as the available evidence is quite limited.

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.

Barriers to addressing mental health issues in childbearing women in Ghana

Aim

The aim of the study is to investigate factors hampering the provision of mental health services by nurses and midwives to childbearing women to assist in the prioritization and distribution of limited mental health resources.

Design

This is a cross‐sectional self‐report study.

Methods

Data collected from 309 nurses and midwives were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistic, namely chi‐square and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results

The barriers reported by the participants include unavailability of mental health services (77%), lack of knowledge of mental health in women from different tribes (75.7%), lack of a clear mental healthcare pathway (75.1%), heavy workload (74.1%) and lack of knowledge of mental health issue (74.1%). These barriers are less likely to be reported by participants who are males, old and who have practiced for a long time.

Conclusions

Systematic effort to restructure the healthcare delivery system, including equipping healthcare professionals with requisite knowledge, skills and competencies in maternal mental health, is highly recommended.

Epidemiology of antenatal depression in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Antenatal depression is a serious problem worldwide that has devastating consequences not only for the mother but also for the child and family. The pooled evidence regarding the prevalence and associated factors of antenatal depression is rare in Africa. Hence this review aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of antenatal depression in Africa.

METHODS

We searched CINHAL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Psychiatry online, PubMed, SCOPES, and Emcare databases for English written observational studies conducted in Africa from 2007 to 2018.Quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS), and studies with good quality were included in the final review. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the I² and Higgins test. Publication bias was checked using Funnel plot symmetry, and Egger's regression test and adjustment was made by using Duval and Tweedie's Trim and Fill analysis. A random effect Meta-analysis was employed to determine the pooled estimates with 95% confidence interval (CI). Stata 14 was used for analysis. The review protocol has been registered in PROSPERO number CRD42018106717.

RESULT

Of the 175 studies identified, 28 studies with an overall sample size of 17,938 were included. According to the random effect model following trim and fill analysis, the pooled prevalence of antenatal depression in Africa was 26.3% (95%CI: 22.2, 30.4%). Economic difficulties [POR = 1.87;95%CI:1.25,2.78,I² = 88.1%], unfavorable marital condition [POR = 4.17;95% CI:1.75, 9.94, I² = 81.2%], poor support from relatives [POR = 1.36;95% CI:1.18, 1.56, I² = 78.0%], bad obstetric history [POR = 2.30;95% CI:1.81, 2.92), I² = 81.7%], and history of mental health problem [POR = 2.97; 95% CI:1.74, 5.06, I² = 92.0%]were the factors associated with antenatal depression.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of antenatal depression is high in Africa, which showed that one in four pregnant women had depression. Pregnant mothers who had economic difficulties, bad obstetric history, poor support from relatives, previous mental health problems, and unfavorable marital conditions were at higher risk of antenatal depression. Therefore these factors should be considered while designing mental health care services for pregnant mothers.

Female infants are more susceptible to the effects of maternal antenatal depression; findings from the Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

We utilised data from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort, a large prospective cohort in southern Brazil, to examine the association of moderate and severe antenatal depression with child birth outcomes and explore interactions with sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODS

Data was available for n = 3046 participants and their infants. We measured antenatal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS, ≥13 for moderate and ≥17 for severe depression). Outcome measures included gestational age, birth weight, length and head circumference, using the Intergrowth-21st standards. We controlled for known confounders including obstetric risk.

RESULTS

We did not find differences in childbirth outcomes by maternal depression status for participants with at least moderate depression, although there was an increased risk for female offspring to be small for gestational age (SGA, OR 2.33[1.37,3.97]). For severe depression (EPDS≥17) we found an increased risk for lower APGAR scores (OR 1.63[1.02,2.60]) and being SGA (OR 1.77[1.06,2.97], with an increased risk for female offspring in particular to be in lower weight centiles (-10.71 [-16.83,-4.60]), to be SGA (OR 3.74[1.89, 7.44]) and in the lower 10th centile for length (OR 2.19[1.25,3.84]).

LIMITATIONS

include the use of a maternal report questionnaire to ascertain depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

In this recent large longitudinal cohort in Brazil we did not find independent effects of depression on adverse birth outcomes or interactions with sociodemographic characteristics. We found an increased risk of being SGA for female offspring of women with moderate and severe depression, in line with other research suggesting females may be more susceptible to antenatal disturbances.

FUNDING

This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom (095582), the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). EN was supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council GCRF Postdoctoral Fellowship (ES/P009794/1).

Antenatal depression and its association with adverse birth outcomes in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Depression in pregnancy (antenatal depression) in many low and middle-income countries is not well documented and has not been given priority for intervention due to competing urgencies and the belief that it does not immediately cause fatalities, which mainly emanated from lack of comprehensive research on the area. To fill this research gap, this systematic review was conducted to investigate the burden of antenatal depression and its consequences on birth outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

We systematically searched the databases: CINHAL, MEDLINE, EMCare, PubMed, PSyc Info, Psychiatry online, and Scopus for studies conducted in low and middle-income countries about antenatal depression and its association with adverse birth outcomes. We have included observational studies (case control, cross-sectional and cohort studies), written in English-language, scored in the range of “good quality” on the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS), and were published between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2017. Studies were excluded if a standardized approach was not used to measure main outcomes, they were conducted on restricted (high risk) populations, or had fair to poor quality score on NOS. We used Higgins and Egger’s to test for heterogeneity and publication bias. Primary estimates were pooled using a random effect meta-analysis. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO with protocol number CRD42017082624.

Result

We included 64 studies (with 44, 035 women) on antenatal depression and nine studies (with 5,540 women) on adverse birth outcomes. Antenatal depression was higher in the lower-income countries (Pooled Prevalence (PP) = 34.0%; 95%CI: 33.1%-34.9%) compared to the middle-income countries (PP = 22.7%, 95%CI: 20.1%-25.2%) and increased over the three trimesters. Pregnant women with a history of economic difficulties, poor marital relationships, common mental disorders, poor social support, bad obstetric history, and exposure to violence were more likely to report antenatal depression. The risk of having preterm birth (2.41; 1.47–3.56) and low birth weight (1.66; 1.06–2.61) was higher in depressed mothers compared to mothers without depression.

Conclusions

Antenatal depression was higher in low-income countries than in middle-income countries and was found to be a risk factor for low birth weight and preterm births. The economic, maternal, and psychosocial risk factors were responsible for the occurrence of antenatal depression. While there could be competing priority agenda to juggle for health policymakers in low-income countries, interventions for antenatal depression should be reprioritized as vitally important in order to prevent the poor maternal and perinatal outcomes identified in this review.

Promoting maternal mental health in Ghana: An examination of the involvement and professional development needs of nurses and midwives

Insight into the involvement and professional development needs (PDNs) of non-mental health nurses and midwives with respect to promoting maternal mental health is necessary to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare delivery. Using a cross-sectional survey and self-report methodology, the study investigates the involvement, PDNs, knowledge and attitudes of 309 nurses and midwives in promoting maternal mental health in Ghana. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, namely Analysis of Variance, bivariate and logistic regression, and cluster analysis. The results showed that the majority of the participants (94%) indicated they were involved in promoting maternal mental health. Knowledge about maternal mental health correlated significantly with involvement in promoting maternal mental health (p < .05), whereas attitude towards maternal mental health did not. An overwhelming proportion of the participants (83%-94%) expressed profound interest in professional development education across a range of maternal mental health areas. Enhancing the mental health knowledge-base of nurses and midwives could contribute significantly to promoting maternal mental health.

Postnatal depressive symptoms in women with and without antenatal depressive symptoms: results from a prospective cohort study

Evidence exists that the risk factors for depression in the antenatal and postnatal period may differ, but only a handful of studies looked at depression longitudinally. The aims of this study were (1) to estimate the prevalence of postnatal depressive symptoms in Kuwait where data about postnatal depression are scarce and identify its determinants and (2) to compare these risk factors between women who had experienced antenatal depressive symptoms and those that did not. Data collected in the TRansgenerational Assessment of Children's Environmental Risk (TRACER) Study in Kuwait were used in this analysis. The sample was restricted to the 1348 women who answered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) both antenatally and postnatally. The prevalence of postnatal depressive symptoms, defined by an EPDS score ≥ 10, was 11.7%. Overall, antenatal depressive symptoms were the strongest determinant of postnatal depressive symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that in women with depressive symptoms in pregnancy, having a lower household income was the most significant risk factor for postnatal depressive symptoms. Among women without antenatal depressive symptoms, those who had lower income, were Kuwaitis, experienced other problems in pregnancy such as perceived stress, PTSD symptoms and social isolation, and those who delivered a boy had higher odds of postnatal depressive symptoms. Antenatal depressive symptoms and other psychosocial characteristics can predict postnatal depressive symptoms. Therefore, maternal mental health issues should be detected during the antenatal period and support should be provided in order to lower the risk of postnatal depression and its sequelae.

Prenatal stress and child development: A scoping review of research in low- and middle-income countries

INTRODUCTION

Past research has shown relationships between stress during pregnancy, and related psychosocial health measures such as anxiety and depressive symptoms, with infant, child, and adult outcomes. However, most research is from high-income countries. We conducted a scoping review to identify research studies on prenatal stress and outcomes of the pregnancy or offspring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and to synthesize the stress measures and outcomes assessed, the findings observed, and directions for future research.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO for English-language abstracts published from Jan 1960-Jan 2017. Search terms were related to stress and psychosocial health; pregnancy; infant or child development; and LMICs.

RESULTS

48 articles were identified. Sixty percent of studies were in upper-middle, 25% in lower-middle, and 15% in low income countries. Most studies used questionnaires, either existing or tailor-made, to assess stress. Eight assessed cortisol. Most studies (n = 31) assessed infant outcomes at birth, particularly gestational age or preterm birth (n = 22, 12 showing significant relationships), and birthweight (n = 21, 14 showing significant relationships). Five studies analyzed outcomes later in infancy such as temperament and motor development, all showing significant results; and nine in childhood such as behavioral development, asthma, and physical growth, with eight showing significant results.

CONCLUSIONS

Results highlight the importance of prenatal stress on infant and child outcomes in LMICs. Methods used in high-income countries are successfully employed in LMICs, but tailored tools remain necessary. Careful assessment of covariates is needed to foster analyses of interactive effects and pathways. Studies including longer-term follow-up should be prioritized.

Associations between antenatal depression and neonatal outcomes in Malawi

Studies from several low- and middle-income countries have shown that antenatal depression may be a risk factor for poor neonatal outcomes. However, those studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa have not consistently demonstrated this association. We set out to investigate whether antenatal depression is associated with shorter duration of pregnancy and reduced newborn size in rural Malawi. Pregnant women recruited from four antenatal clinics to the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements Project-DYAD-Malawi (iLiNS-DYAD-M) randomised controlled trial of nutrient supplementation were screened for antenatal depression in the second or third trimester using a locally validated version of the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). Outcomes were duration of pregnancy, birthweight, newborn length for age z-score (LAZ), head circumference z-score, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Other potential confounding factors and predictors of birth outcome were measured and adjusted for in the analysis. 1,391 women were enrolled to the trial. 1,006/1,391 (72.3%) of these women completed an SRQ and gave birth to a singleton infant whose weight was measured within 2 weeks of birth. 143/1,006 (14.2%) scored SRQ ≥ 8, indicating likely depression. Antenatal depression was not associated with birth weight, duration of pregnancy, newborn LAZ, or head-circumference Z-score. There was an inverse association with newborn MUAC (adjusted mean difference - 0.2 cm (95% CI -0.4 to 0, p = 0.021) the significance of which is unclear. The study was conducted within a randomised controlled trial of nutritional supplementation and there was a high proportion of missing data in some enrolment sites; this may have affected the validity of our findings.

Antenatal depressive symptoms and adverse birth outcomes in Hanoi, Vietnam

BACKGROUND

Antenatal depression is a significant health problem in low and middle- income countries. Although the condition is associated with severe adverse consequences for the mother and newborn, it remains a neglected problem. The purpose of this study was to describe the association between antenatal depressive symptoms and preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestation age (SGA).

METHODS

The study was conducted in Dong Anh District, Hanoi, Vietnam, among pregnant women of less than 24 weeks of gestation. Information on socioeconomic characteristics and reproductive history was collected at enrollment and ADS and experiences of intimate partner violence were assessed at week 32. Birth outcomes were determined at delivery. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were applied to assess the associations between ADS and PTB, LBW, and SGA.

RESULTS

ADS was significantly associated with an increased risk of PTB (crude OR = 2.4; 95%; CI: 1.01-5.4 and adjusted OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.1-5.2, respectively) and a significantly increased risk for giving birth to an LBW infant (crude OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.4-7.0 and adjusted OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.6-7.6, respectively). In contrast, ADS was not statistically associated with small for gestation age.

CONCLUSION

ADS is associated with an increased risk of PTB and LBW but not associated with SGA.

Depressive symptoms and comorbid problems in pregnancy - results from a population based study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of antenatal depressive symptoms, identify relevant risk factors, and assess comorbid mental health problems, among pregnant women enrolled in a population based study.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of data collected from 1916 pregnant women who participated in the TRansgenerational Assessment of Children's Environmental Risk (TRACER) study in Kuwait, and had answered the Baseline Questionnaire and completed the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS). Logistic regression models were used to examine the association of depressive symptoms with baseline socio-demographic characteristics and psychosocial indicators.

RESULTS

The prevalence of antenatal depressive symptoms, using a cut-off of EDS score ≥ 10, was 20.1%. Depressive symptoms were reported more by women of lower family income and had self-reported history of depression prior to pregnancy, with women in the third trimester having higher odds of antenatal depressive symptoms compared to those in the second trimester. Pregnancy-related anxiety, higher perceived stress levels, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were comorbid with the presence of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The findings showed that one in five pregnant women in Kuwait experiences antenatal depressive symptoms and that these symptoms are comorbid with other mental health problems. Screening for antenatal depression and providing support to pregnant women should be considered.

Burden of common mental disorders among pregnant women: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Common mental disorders (CMDs) including depressive and anxiety disorders during antenatal period is reported to affect both mother and child health outcomes. There is scarce evidence about burden of CMDs during pregnancy from Lower and Middle Income Countries.

OBJECTIVE

To review the evidence about the burden of common mental disorders among pregnant women METHODS: Major databases were searched systematically for English language studies on prevalence of CMDs. Quality assessment of studies was done with the modified version of Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for non-analytical studies.

RESULTS

Twenty three studies were included in the review. The prevalence of CMDs among pregnant women ranged from 1%-37%. Depression was more commonly studied (ranged from 1%-30%). Prevalence of GAD ranged from 1%-26%. Factors commonly associated with CMDs were lower SES, intimate partner violence, history of previous episode of CMDs, history of mental illness in family and unmarried status. Effect of CMDs on child health outcome was also detected.

CONCLUSION

CMDs are common during pregnancy with varying prevalence depending on various settings and scales used.

Depression during pregnancy and preterm delivery: a prospective cohort study among women attending antenatal clinic at Pumwani Maternity Hospital

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth occurs among 9.6% of births worldwide and is the leading cause of long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities among children and also responsible for 28% of neonatal deaths. No single etiological factor is responsible for preterm birth, but various risk factors have been identified. Prior studies have reported that compromised maternal mental health occurring during pregnancy may lead to various adverse obstetric outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether antenatal depression is significantly associated with preterm delivery in a low resource hospital sample from suburbs of Nairobi.

METHODS

292 women attending the antenatal clinic at Pumwani Maternity Hospital in Nairobi meeting the study criteria were recruited. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered to screen for depression. A clinical cutoff score of 10 and above was regarded as possible depression. Thereafter, a clinical interview together with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was administered to evaluate the participants on DSM-V criteria for major depressive disorder. Only 255 of the women were successfully followed-up to delivery with an attrition rate of 12.7%. Records of gestation at delivery and birth weight were collected at second contact.

DATA ANALYSIS

Preterm birth was associated with various demographic, psychosocial and medical variables. Relative risks were estimated via log binomial regression analysis to determine whether depression was a risk factor for preterm birth.

RESULTS

Of the 255 participants, 98(38.4%) found to have depressive symptoms and 27(10.7%) delivered preterm. The risk of delivering preterm was 3.8 times higher among those with depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

There is a positive association between antenatal depression and preterm delivery. This highlights the importance of screening for mental health challenges in the antenatal period as a means to reduce adverse obstetric outcomes.

Relationship Between Common Mental Disorder Symptoms During Pregnancy and Preterm Birth Among Chinese Women in Wuhan

Objectives Few studies focus on the symptoms of common mental disorders during pregnancy (CMDP) and risk of preterm birth subtypes (PTB). The purpose of this study was to estimate the association between CMDP and PTB, and to examine whether or not the association between CMDP and PTB varies with the subtype of PTB in Chinese. Methods This population-based case control study, conducted in Wuhan, China, defined cases as every pregnant woman who had a PTB among all births in Wuhan, from June 10, 2011, to June 9, 2013. The same number of pregnant women who had term births was randomly selected as controls. The Electronic Perinatal Health Care Information System, a questionnaire designed for the study, provided data about the participants. Logistic regression analyses were used to model associations between CMDP and PTB, and to test associations between CMDP and two subtypes of PTB. Results The study recruited 8616 cases and an equal number of controls. We successfully collected maternal information on 6656 cases and controls for a response rate of 77.3 %. The incidence of PTB in Wuhan was 4.5 %. Spontaneous preterm births (SPTB) accounted for 60.1 %, and medically induced preterm births (IPTB) accounted for 39.9 % of preterm births. The prevalence rate of CMDP was 15.8 %. CMDP was slightly associated with PTB (crude OR 1.16, 95 % CI 1.01-1.32; adjusted OR 1.15, 95 % CI 1.00-1.32), further analyses showed CMDP was associated with IPTB (aOR 1.25, 95 % CI 1.04-1.50), but not with SPTB. Conclusion Our data suggest that CMDP is related to an increased risk of PTB, and that this association is primarily due to IPTB rather than SPTB.

[Association between depression during pregnancy and low birth weight in neonates: a Meta analysis]

OBJECTIVE

To study the association between depression during pregnancy and low birth weight in neonates, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention of low birth weight.

METHODS

Cohort studies on the association between depression during pregnancy and low birth weight were collected and a Meta analysis was performed. Data were extracted independently by two investigators, and quality assessment was performed according to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The Egger's test was used to evaluate publication bias.

RESULTS

A total of 12 cohort studies with 37 192 samples were included. The results of the Meta analysis showed that depression during pregnancy was associated with low birth weight (Z=2.08, P=0.038), and the neonates whose mothers had depression during pregnancy tended to have a high risk of low birth weight (RR=1.303, 95%CI: 1.015-1.672). The sensitivity analysis showed that the results of this Meta analysis were stable and reliable, and the Egger's test showed no publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression during pregnancy may be a risk factor for low birth weight in neonates.

[Association between depression during pregnancy and low birth weight in neonates: a Meta analysis]

OBJECTIVE

To study the association between depression during pregnancy and low birth weight in neonates, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention of low birth weight.

METHODS

Cohort studies on the association between depression during pregnancy and low birth weight were collected and a Meta analysis was performed. Data were extracted independently by two investigators, and quality assessment was performed according to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The Egger's test was used to evaluate publication bias.

RESULTS

A total of 12 cohort studies with 37 192 samples were included. The results of the Meta analysis showed that depression during pregnancy was associated with low birth weight (Z=2.08, P=0.038), and the neonates whose mothers had depression during pregnancy tended to have a high risk of low birth weight (RR=1.303, 95%CI: 1.015-1.672). The sensitivity analysis showed that the results of this Meta analysis were stable and reliable, and the Egger's test showed no publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression during pregnancy may be a risk factor for low birth weight in neonates.

The prevalence of antenatal and postnatal co-morbid anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis

To date, the precise prevalence of co-morbidity of anxiety and depression in the perinatal period is not well known. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of co-morbid anxiety and depression in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Systematic searches of multiple electronic databases were conducted for studies published between January 1950 and January 2016. We included 66 (24 published and 42 unpublished) studies incorporating 162 120 women from 30 countries. Prevalence of self-reported antenatal anxiety symptoms and mild to severe depressive symptoms was 9.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8-11.2, 17 studies, n = 25 592] and of co-morbid anxiety symptoms and moderate/severe depressive symptoms was 6.3% (95% CI 4.8-7.7, 17 studies, n = 27 270). Prevalence of a clinical diagnosis of any antenatal anxiety disorder and depression was 9.3% (95% CI 4.0-14.7, 10 studies, n = 3918) and of co-morbid generalized anxiety disorder and depression was 1.7% (95% CI 0.2-3.1, three studies, n = 3085). Postnatally between 1 and 24 weeks postpartum, the prevalence of co-morbid anxiety symptoms and mild to severe depressive symptoms was 8.2% (95% CI 6.5-9.9, 15 studies, n = 14 731), while co-morbid anxiety symptoms and moderate/severe depressive symptoms was 5.7% (95% CI 4.3-7.1, 13 studies, n = 20 849). The prevalence of a clinical diagnosis of co-morbid anxiety and depression was 4.2% (95% CI 1.9-6.6, eight studies, n = 3251). Prevalence rates did not differ with regard to year of publication, country income, selection bias and attrition bias. The results suggest that co-morbid perinatal anxiety and depression are prevalent and warrant clinical attention given the potential negative child developmental consequences if left untreated. Further research is warranted to develop evidence-based interventions for prevention, identification and treatment of this co-morbidity.

Prevalence of antenatal and postnatal anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMaternal anxiety negatively influences child outcomes. Reliable estimates have not been established because of varying published prevalence rates.AimsTo establish summary estimates for the prevalence of maternal anxiety in the antenatal and postnatal periods.MethodWe searched multiple databases including MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO to identify studies published up to January 2016 with data on the prevalence of antenatal or postnatal anxiety. Data were extracted from published reports and any missing information was requested from investigators. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses.ResultsWe reviewed 23 468 abstracts, retrieved 783 articles and included 102 studies incorporating 221 974 women from 34 countries. The prevalence for self-reported anxiety symptoms was 18.2% (95% CI 13.6-22.8) in the first trimester, 19.1% (95% CI 15.9-22.4) in the second trimester and 24.6% (95% CI 21.2-28.0) in the third trimester. The overall prevalence for a clinical diagnosis of any anxiety disorder was 15.2% (95% CI 9.0-21.4) and 4.1% (95% CI 1.9-6.2) for a generalised anxiety disorder. Postnatally, the prevalence for anxiety symptoms overall at 1-24 weeks was 15.0% (95% CI 13.7-16.4). The prevalence for any anxiety disorder over the same period was 9.9% (95% CI 6.1-13.8), and 5.7% (95% CI 2.3-9.2) for a generalised anxiety disorder. Rates were higher in low- to middle-income countries.ConclusionsResults suggest perinatal anxiety is highly prevalent and merits clinical attention. Research is warranted to develop evidence-based interventions.

Factors associated with the probability of common mental disorders in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective: To estimate the prevalence of probability of common mental disorders in pregnant women and associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a quantitative and descriptive approach was performed with 330 pregnant women enrolled in a Women's Health Service located in Mid-West Brazil. Data were obtained through a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics and family or personal history. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire and Poisson regression were applied to screen for common mental disorders, aiming to identify factors associated with it. Results: The prevalence of probability of common mental disorders among pregnant women was 57.1% and it was associated with marital status, gestational age, unplanned pregnancy and bleeding. Conclusion: The prevalence of pregnant women likely to have common mental disorders and the average Self-Reporting Questionnaire score estimated in this study were higher than those found in other studies with samples from the general population.

Prenatal Maternal Anxiety as a Risk Factor for Preterm Birth and the Effects of Heterogeneity on This Relationship: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses (MA) that previously explored the relationship between prenatal maternal anxiety (PMA) and preterm birth (PTB) have not been comprehensive in study inclusion, failing to account for effects of heterogeneity and disagree in their conclusions. Objectives. This SRMA provides a summary of the published evidence of the relationship between PMA and PTB while examining methodological and statistical sources of heterogeneity. Methods. Published studies from MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and EMBASE, until June 2015, were extracted and reviewed. Results. Of the 37 eligible studies, 31 were used in this MA; six more were subsequently excluded due to statistical issues, substantially reducing the heterogeneity. The odds ratio for PMA was 1.70 (95% CI 1.33, 2.18) for PTB and 1.67 (95% CI 1.35, 2.07) for spontaneous PTB comparing higher levels of anxiety to lower levels. Conclusions. Consistent findings indicate a significant association between PMA and PTB. Due to the statistical problem of including collinear variables in a single regression model, it is hard to distinguish the effect of the various types of psychosocial distress on PTB. However, a prenatal program aimed at addressing mental health issues could be designed and evaluated using a randomised controlled trial to assess the causal nature of different aspects of mental health on PTB.

Maternal psychiatric disorders and risk of preterm birth

PURPOSE

To study the effect of maternal psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disease, schizophrenia, unspecified psychiatric disorder, and comorbid conditions) and odds of preterm birth.

METHODS

The Consortium on Safe Labor (2002-2008), an observational cohort with 12 centers from across the United States included 223,394 singleton pregnancies with clinical data obtained from electronic medical records and maternal diagnoses of psychiatric disorders from maternal discharge summaries. Length of gestation was based on the best clinical estimate and categorized as birth less than 39, less than 37, less than 34, and less than 28 weeks' gestation. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals of birth were estimated by logistic regression with generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

Any maternal psychiatric disorder was associated with odds of birth less than 39 weeks' gestation (odds ratio [OR] = 1.32, 95% confidence interval = 1.28-1.37), less than 37 weeks' gestation (OR = 1.45, 1.38-1.52), less than 34 weeks' gestation (OR = 1.47, 1.35-1.59), and less than 28 weeks' gestation (OR = 1.57, 1.36-1.82). Specifically, odds of birth less than 37 weeks' gestation were associated with maternal depression (OR = 1.31, 1.23-1.40), anxiety disorder (OR = 1.68, 1.41-2.01), depression with anxiety disorder (OR = 2.31, 1.93-2.78), bipolar disease (OR = 1.54, 1.22-1.94), bipolar disease with depression and/or anxiety disorder (OR = 1.70, 1.30-2.22), and unspecified psychiatric disorder (OR = 1.52, 1.41-1.64).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal psychiatric disorders, especially comorbid psychiatric conditions, were associated with increased likelihood of preterm birth.

Perinatal distress and depression in Malawi: an exploratory qualitative study of stressors, supports and symptoms

Quantitative studies have demonstrated that depression and anxiety in the perinatal period are common amongst women in low- and middle-income countries and are associated with a range of psychosocial and health-related stressors. In this exploratory qualitative study conducted in southern Malawi, we investigated the thoughts and emotions experienced by women in pregnancy and the postnatal period, their expectations of support from husband and others, problems and difficulties faced and the impact of these on psychological wellbeing. We conducted 11 focus group discussions with a total of 98 parous women. A thematic analysis approach was used. Three major themes were identified: pregnancy as a time of uncertainty, the husband (and others) as support and stressor, and the impact of stressors on mental health. Pregnancy was seen as bringing uncertainty about the survival and wellbeing of both mother and unborn child. Poverty, lack of support, HIV, witchcraft and child illness were identified as causes of worry in the perinatal period. Husbands were expected to provide emotional, financial and practical support, with wider family and friends having a lesser role. Infidelity, abuse and abandonment were seen as key stressors in the perinatal period. Exposure to stressors was understood to lead to altered mental states, the symptoms of which are consistent with the concept of common perinatal mental disorder. This study confirms and expands on evidence from quantitative studies and provides formative data for the development of a psychosocial intervention for common perinatal mental disorder in Malawi.

Mental health related determinants of parenting stress among urban mothers of young children--results from a birth-cohort study in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on the parenting stress (PS) levels in sub-Saharan African mothers and on the association between ante- and postnatal depression and anxiety on PS.

METHODS

A longitudinal birth cohort of 577 women from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire was followed from the 3rd trimester in pregnancy to 2 years postpartum between 2010 and 2013. Depression and anxiety were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) at baseline, 3 month, 12 month and 24 month postpartum. PS was measured using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) at 3, 12 and 24 month. The mean total PS score and the subscale scores were compared among depressed vs. non-depressed and among anxious vs. non-anxious mothers at 3, 12 and 24 month postpartum. The proportions of clinical PS (PSI-SF raw score > 90) in depressed vs. non-depressed and anxious vs. non-anxious mothers were also compared. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach was used to estimate population-averaged associations between women's depression/anxiety and PS adjusting for age, child sex, women's anemia, education, occupation, spouse's education, and number of sick child visits.

RESULTS

A total of 577, 531 and 264 women completed the PS assessment at 3 month, 12 month and 24 month postpartum across the two sites and the prevalences of clinical PS at each time point was 33.1%, 24.4% and 14.9% in Ghana and 30.2%, 33.5% and 22.6% in Côte d'Ivoire, respectively. At all three time points, the PS scores were significantly higher among depressed mothers vs. non-depressed mothers. In the multivariate regression analyses, antepartum and postpartum depression were consistently associated with PS after adjusting for other variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Parenting stress is frequent and levels are high compared with previous studies from high-income countries. Antepartum and postpartum depression were both associated with PS, while antepartum and postpartum anxiety were not after adjusting for confounders. More quantitative and qualitative data are needed in sub-Saharan African populations to assess the burden of PS and understand associated mechanisms. Should our findings be replicated, it appears prudent to design and subsequently evaluate intervention strategies.