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Introduction: The United States is the only high-income country without a comprehensive national maternity leave policy guaranteeing paid, job-projected leave. The current study examined associations between maternity leave characteristics (duration of leave, payment status of leave) and postpartum depressive symptoms., Methods: This study used a sample of 3,515 postpartum women from the New York City and New York State Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) from 2016 to 2019. We used logistic regression to examine the association of leave duration and payment status with self-reported postpartum depressive symptoms between 2 and 6 months postpartum., Results: Compared to having at least some paid leave, having unpaid leave was associated with an increased odds of postpartum depressive symptoms, adjusting for leave duration and selected covariates (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.93). There was no significant difference in postpartum depressive symptoms between those with partially and those with fully paid leave. In contrast to prior literature, leave duration was not significantly associated with postpartum depressive symptoms (aOR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.97-1.02 for each additional week of leave)., Discussion: This study suggests that unpaid leave is associated with increased risk of postpartum depression, which can have long-term health effects for both mothers and children. Future studies can help to identify which communities could most benefit from paid leave and help to inform paid leave policies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and social isolation are prevalent and associated with adverse maternal and child health outcomes. We conducted a systematic review to assess the evidence for nature-based interventions (NBIs) to address depression, anxiety, and loneliness among pregnant and postpartum women., Methods: Studies were identified through MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.org, Web of Science, and Cochrane Reviews in February 2023. Included studies were original, peer-reviewed studies published in or translated into English that evaluated an intervention which engaged pregnant or postpartum women directly with nature and used a quantitative outcome measure for anxiety, depression, or loneliness., Results: Three studies, including 68 pregnant or postpartum women and their family or friends, met our inclusion criteria. Results were synthesized narratively in text and tables. All studies had early-stage designs and relatively small sample sizes. A variety of intervention content and delivery platforms were utilized. Studies were not adequately powered to test or detect statistically significant changes in depression, anxiety, or loneliness. Measurement of nature engagement varied. Using the Downs and Black checklist, we found study quality varied from good to poor., Discussion: More research is needed to understand the potential benefits of NBIs for perinatal mental health and social wellbeing. Additional study rigor is needed, including the consistent use of validated and well-rationalized measures of nature engagement. Intervention design should consider the varying needs perinatal populations, including barriers to and facilitators of engagement for diverse communities., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental health condition that affects women in a silent and covert way and is not clearly visible to the community or to health care providers. Untreated PPD has significant and long-term consequences on the mother and their child. This study aims to assess the risk of postpartum depression among women in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its determinants., Method: This is a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted at primary healthcare centers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The target population is women visiting the well-child vaccination clinics for their infants' vaccination. The questionnaire used consisted of socio-demographic characteristics, important histories such as obstetric, medical, and social histories, and the Edinburgh Post Partum depression scale EPPS. EPPS is a validated tool used to evaluate the probability of postpartum depression., Results: The probability of postpartum depression for women visiting the well child care clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi during the study period was 35%, One-third. 10% had high risk, 7% had moderate risk, and 18% had mild risk. Using logistic and linear regression, there was an association identified between postpartum depression risk and the presence of weight concern and employment status OR 5.499(2.618-11.548) and OR 0.483 (0.246-0.951), respectively (P < 0.005). From the total sample, 3.7% responded quite often or sometimes to the question of having the intention to harm themselves., Conclusion: EPDS is recommended to be used routinely to screen women in the postnatal period. This high prevalence of risk of postpartum depression in the UAE (One in three women) calls for a well-prepared healthcare system and community. Healthcare providers need to be prepared with better knowledge, practice, and management strategies to care for these women, for early identification and management. Further studies should be undertaken to achieve effective strategies to reduce the incidence of this condition., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Maternal depression and anxiety occurring beyond the 1-year postpartum period can lead to significant suffering for both mother and child. This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize studies reporting the prevalence and incidence of maternal depression and anxiety beyond 1 year post-childbirth., Methods: A systematic literature review of the PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase databases identified studies reporting on the prevalence and/or incidence of depression and/or anxiety among mothers between 1 and 12 years post-childbirth. The quality of the included studies was assessed. Findings were synthesized qualitatively., Results: Twenty-one studies were identified that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All studies reported the prevalence of depression, with 31 estimates ranging from 6.6% at 3 to 11 years post-childbirth to 41.4% at 3 to 4 years post-childbirth. Five of these studies also reported the prevalence of depression in subgroups (e.g., ethnic origin, income, marital status). Four studies reported the prevalence of anxiety, with nine estimates ranging from 3.7% at 5 years post-childbirth to 37.0% at 3 to 4 years post-childbirth. Only one study reported incidence. The quality of the included studies was variable, with most studies scoring above 7/9., Conclusion: Maternal anxiety and depression remain prevalent beyond the first year postpartum, particularly in marginalized subgroups. Current observational studies lack consistency and produce highly variable prevalence rates, calling for more standardized measures of depression and anxiety. Clinical practice and research should consider the prevalence of maternal anxiety and depression beyond this period., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Responding to the National Institutes of Health Working Group's call for research on the psychological impact of stillbirth, we compared coping-related behaviors by outcome of an index birth (surviving live birth or perinatal loss - stillbirth or neonatal death) and, among individuals with loss, characterized coping strategies and their association with depressive symptoms 6-36 months postpartum., Methods: We used data from the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network follow-up study (2006-2008) of 285 individuals who experienced a stillbirth, 691 a livebirth, and 49 a neonatal death. We conducted a thematic analysis of coping strategies individuals recommended following their loss. We fit logistic regression models, accounting for sampling and inverse probability of follow-up weights to estimate associations between pregnancy outcomes and coping-related behaviors and, separately, coping strategies and probable depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale > 12) for those with loss., Results: Compared to those with a surviving live birth and adjusting for pre-pregnancy drinking and smoking, history of stillbirth, and age, individuals who experienced a loss were more likely to report increased drinking or smoking in the two months postpartum (adjusted OR: 2.7, 95% CI = 1.4-5.4). Those who smoked or drank more had greater odds of probable depression at 6 to 36 months postpartum (adjusted OR 6.4, 95% CI = 2.5-16.4). Among those with loss, recommended coping strategies commonly included communication, support groups, memorializing the loss, and spirituality., Discussion: Access to a variety of evidence-based and culturally-appropriate positive coping strategies may help individuals experiencing perinatal loss avoid adverse health consequences., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Despite previous attempts to identify types of social support among postpartum mothers, researchers have overlooked how and why postpartum mothers seek and offer social support as well as the dynamics of participation in online communities., Objective and Methods: The objective of the current study was to explore possible answers through grounded theory approach of interviews with 24 mothers who have experienced postpartum depression and psychological distress., Results: The primary motivation to join the community was a desire for connectedness and reassurance. Initially engaged to seek information, users began to share not only informational and tangible support, but also emotional and esteem support as they gained comfort with their membership in these groups., Conclusion: Findings suggest that affirming normalcy while coping with postpartum distress is an integral part of the social support shared among postpartum mothers. Moreover, the findings indicated that to maximize the sustainability as well as the effectiveness of online communities for postpartum mothers, motivating silent users to participate and reciprocate is crucial., (© 2023. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Objectives: About 74.91% of U.S. mothers experience postpartum pain at 6 to 10 weeks postpartum, and one in seven U.S. mothers suffer from postpartum depression. We used machine learning to explore physical, psychological, and social factors during pregnancy and childbirth and identify the most important predictors of postpartum pain and depression., Methods: Data were from the Listening To Mothers III survey (2012), a national representative sample of postpartum mothers. We randomly split the dataset into a training set (N = 1467) and a test set (N = 723). The final models included 34 risk factors identified from previous literature. Postpartum pain was measured as "to what extent the pain interferes with mothers' daily life". PHQ2 scores measured depression. We used the random forest model, an aggregate of many regression trees, to accommodate potential nonlinear/interaction effects., Results: In the test data set, our models explained 15.8% of the variance in pain and 27.1% of the variance in depression. The model's strongest predictors for postpartum pain were Cesarean delivery, holding back while communicating with providers, non-use of pain relief medications, and perceived discrimination. For depression scores, the model's strongest predictors included needing help for depression during pregnancy, perceived discrimination, holding back, gestational diabetes, and pain., Conclusions for Practice: Mental and physical health are intertwined and should be considered integratively in the perinatal period. Besides, practitioners should also be aware of the importance of patient-provider-relationship, which both independently and interact with other risk factors to predict postpartum health., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Rates of perinatal depression and pregnancy hyperglycemia are higher in Hispanic women as compared to non-Hispanic white women. In turn, depressive symptoms may reduce a woman's ability to engage in lifestyle changes that could reduce their subsequent diabetes risk., Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using data from Estudio Parto to evaluate sociodemographic, behavioral, psychosocial, and medical factors associated with perinatal depressive symptoms. Estudio Parto was a randomized controlled trial conducted in Western Massachusetts from 2013 to 17. Eligible participants had pregnancy hyperglycemia. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered at 24-28 weeks gestation and at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum. An EPDS cutpoint of 10 or greater defined the presence of depressive symptoms., Results: In this sample of Puerto Rican women with pregnancy hyperglycemia, 32% and 27% showed prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms, respectively. Among participants, 35.5% were diagnosed with GDM, 44.3% with isolated hyperglycemia, and 20.2% with impaired glucose tolerance. In multivariable models, being unmarried (OR 3.87; 95% CI 1.51-9.94), prenatal substance use (smoking or alcohol consumption; OR 2.96; 95% CI 1.41-6.18), and maternal age (1.11 for each year; 95% CI 1.04-1.18) were associated with higher odds of prenatal depressive symptoms. None of the risk factors were associated with subsequent postpartum depression in adjusted analyses., Conclusions: Identifying factors associated with prenatal and postpartum depression in Puerto Rican women with pregnancy hyperglycemia can inform targeted lifestyle interventions in this at-risk group, increase the likely adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors, and thereby work to address health disparities., Clinicaltrials: gov NCT01679210; date of registration 08/07/2012., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) has been recognized as a serious and wide-spread mental health disorder that has long-term negative impacts on children's cognitive, social, and emotional development. This study extends prior research by examining the associations among predictors of PPD, including two different facets of father involvement and couple relationship quality, with a focus on testing these pathways across ethnic groups., Method: This study analyzed data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) including mothers' baseline interviews and one-year follow-up data sets (n = 2,794). Several models were tested using bootstrapping in structural equation modeling to explore the mediating paths and ethnic differences., Results: This study found that father involvement in sharing childcare responsibility had direct effects on reducing mothers' parenting stress and promoted maternal psychological adjustment, which was consistent across the three ethnic groups. The mediation pathways through couple relationship quality between father involvement (both father involvement in direct infant care and shared responsibilities) and PPD were detected significant for Black and white mothers., Conclusions for Practice: This study provided empirical evidence that father involvement in infant care is critical for mothers' perceived relationship quality. Maternal postpartum mental health may benefit from interventions and policies that encourage positive father engagement in infant care., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To examine the mental health of women in the perinatal period prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: We use provisional vital statistics data for births occurring in the central region of New Jersey. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is employed to assess depressive symptoms. Our focal analysis uses linear regression models to test whether giving birth during the pandemic is associated with elevated depressive symptoms. All analyses are performed using time-matched (September 2019-April 2020; n = 18,531) and month-matched (January 2019-April 2019 and January 2020- April 2020; n = 18,346) samples., Results: Women who gave birth in March and not in April reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than those who gave birth prior to the pandemic in our time-matched (b = 0.09) and month-matched (b = 0.09) samples. The magnitude of this association is approximately one-third the magnitude of the association between preterm birth and depressive symptoms., Conclusion: These findings suggest that researchers and practitioners should pay special attention to signs of postpartum depression and women's adaptive coping responses in the early stages of pandemics.

Objectives: Children raised by depressed mothers perform lower on measures of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral skills, compared to children of non-depressed mothers. It is unclear how maternal depressive symptoms (MDS), which persist and accrue over time, impact child development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether cumulative MDS from pre-pregnancy to postpartum influences child development in children by age 2.5., Methods: Using a longitudinal population-based study design, 2679 racially and ethnically diverse mothers completed the 2014 Los Angeles Mommy and Baby (LAMB) and 2016 Follow-Up surveys. A total MDS score was created based on responses to standardized questions, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Data was collected for before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and 4 months postpartum in the 2014 survey, and at 2.5 years postpartum in the 2016 survey. Child development was measured using the CDC's Learn the Signs. Act Early Milestones Checklist. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted., Results: The prevalence of any cumulative MDS was 45.2%. Language, cognitive/adaptive, motor, and social-emotional delays for surveyed toddlers were 7.7%, 4.0%, 1.2%, and 14.2%. After adjusting for covariates, mothers reporting depressive symptoms at all four time points were significantly more likely to report a social-emotional delay in their child (aOR = 4.39, 95% CI - 1.72 to 11.18)., Conclusions for Practice: Mothers with cumulative depressive symptoms are at-risk of reporting social-emotional delays by age 2.5. Understanding these effects may help direct resources to target interventions that support mothers with depressive symptoms early-on and promote positive developmental outcomes among their children.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of three positive mental health (PMH) outcomes (self-rated mental health, life satisfaction, sense of community belonging) in postpartum women to the general population, and to examine the relationship between protective factors and the three PMH outcomes among postpartum women., Methods: The national cross-sectional Survey on Maternal Health (n = 6558) was analyzed. Analyses were weighted and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Three adjusted logistic regression models were generated. To compare this sample to the general population of women, estimates from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Annual Component (2018) were used., Results: Compared to the general population of women, a larger proportion of postpartum women reported a strong sense of community belonging. The odds of postpartum women with high self-rated physical health having high self-rated mental health were approximately seven times greater (aOR 6.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.9, 8.1) than postpartum women with lower self-rated physical health. The absence of symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and high self-rated physical health were significantly associated with all three PMH outcomes. Frequent availability of maternal support was associated with greater odds of high life satisfaction (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4, 1.9) and sense of community belonging (aOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2, 1.6)., Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that availability of maternal support, self-rated physical health and absence of symptoms of PPD or GAD were associated with PMH among postpartum women. As physical health had the strongest association with mental health, we encourage further examination of this relationship.

Introduction: The quality of the mother-child relationship in the first year of life has far reaching implications across the life course (Bornstein in Annu Rev Psychol 65:121-158, 2014). Yet little is known about predictors of maternal bonding and emotional availability in early infancy. In this study we examined the extent to which postnatal bonding, maternal mental health, and substance use at 8-weeks postpartum predicted mother-infant bonding (self-report) and mother emotional availability (observational) at 12-months of age., Methods: Data were obtained from an Australian longitudinal cohort study of pregnancy (n = 308). Data were collected during pregnancy, at birth, and postnatally at 8-weeks and 12-months., Results: The results show strong continuity between postnatal bonding at 8-weeks and 12-months. Early postpartum stress and depression were associated with bonding at 12-months; however, the effect did not persist after adjustment for bonding at 8-weeks. Tobacco use at 8-weeks, but no other indicators of mental health, predicted lower emotional availability scores at 12-months., Discussion: Results suggest that the mother's felt bond to her child is stable across the first year of life and that early bonding is a more robust indicator of bonding at 12-months than a mother's mental health or substance use. These findings point to the importance of clinical and public health investments in establishing a strong bond between mother and child in the early postpartum period.

Objectives: Evidence suggests that maternal psychological distress is an under-diagnosed condition that can have lasting impacts on child outcomes. Models based solely on maternal outcomes have not found screening to be cost-effective. This research explores the effects of self-reported maternal psychological distress on children's language and behavioural development up to the age of 7., Methods: Using longitudinal survey data from 10,893 families in the UK Millennium Cohort Study, multilevel models are used to explore the differential effects of maternal diagnosed and treated depression versus untreated maternal psychological distress during the postnatal year on longer-term child outcomes., Results: Both diagnosed and treated depression and self-reported maternal psychological distress have detrimental effects on child behavioural development. Behavioural outcomes up to age 5 were better for children of women who received treatment for depression, compared with children those whose mothers' psychological distress was untreated, but this was not maintained to age 7. Little or no evidence of a difference was found between maternal psychological distress and child language development., Conclusions for Practice: This research highlights the lack of effectiveness of existing treatment for maternal psychological distress both to benefit child development and to provide long-term symptom remediation for women. Future research could aim to identify more effective treatments for both women and children.

Objectives Maternal depression in the postpartum period is prevalent and associated with negative child outcomes, including behavior problems and cognitive delays. Mothers of children admitted directly after birth to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at even higher risk for depressive symptoms and infants born premature and/or at low birth weight may be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of maternal depression. Understanding mechanisms, particularly modifiable mechanisms, involved in the development or persistence of depressive symptoms is critically important for developing effective treatments. Methods The longitudinal, secondary analysis investigated the role of psychological inflexibility (rigidly avoiding or attempting to control distressing internal experiences, precluding present moment awareness of contingencies and engagement with important values) as a mediator of the relationship between early (1-2 weeks postpartum) and later (3 and 6 months postpartum) depressive symptoms among mothers with an infant in the NICU. Results Psychological inflexibility measured 2 weeks after infant discharge from the hospital fully mediated the relationship between early and later depressive symptoms at 3 months postpartum, with partial mediation at 6 months, while controlling for factors previously found predictive of postpartum depression. Conclusions for Practice Psychological inflexibility may be a mechanism by which postpartum depressive symptoms persist after hospital discharge among new mothers with a NICU infant. Acceptance and Mindfulness therapies which specifically target psychological inflexibility may be promising interventions to reduce depressive symptoms postpartum.

Objectives The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) identifies women with depressive symptoms in pregnancy. Our primary objective was to determine the prevalence of EPDS screen-positive women delivering on our no prenatal care (laborist) service and to compare these patients to private patients delivering with prenatal care. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis of EPDS scores during January 1, 2015 to June 18, 2015 was conducted. Scores ≥ 10 were considered at-risk. Results were analyzed as an aggregate and then as no prenatal care versus prenatal care. Characteristics for patients with at-risk scores (EPDS ≥ 10) versus low-risk scores (EPDS < 10) were quantified. Results Analysis occurred on 970 women. EPDS ≥ 10 occurred in 12.4% (n = 120/970). Positive EPDS score was 21.1% without prenatal care versus 10.9% with adequate prenatal care (P = 0.003). Maternal demographics and delivery characteristics were clinically similar in patients with prenatal care compared to no prenatal care. Private insurance was more common in patients with prenatal care compared to no prenatal care (23.5 versus 8.1%, P = 0.0001). However, analysis of patients with EPDS > 10 showed non-significant distributions of ethnicity, private insurance, Medicaid, or no insurance compared to patients with EPDS < 10. Conclusion for Practice Patients without prenatal care who arrive solely for urgent "drop-in" delivery have a measurable increased risk factor for postpartum depressive symptoms. Ethnicity and payor status were related to adequacy of prenatal care but were not significant variables when analyzing patients with EPDS > 10. Laborist services providing care to "drop-in" patients should recognize this increased risk and develop policies for screening, referral and follow-up of at-risk patients.

Objectives This study examines whether mothers involved with child protection services (CPS) at the birth of their first child had higher rates of postpartum depression and anxiety. Methods A retrospective cohort of mothers whose first child was born in Manitoba, Canada between April 1, 1995 and March 31, 2015 is used. Postpartum depression and anxiety among mothers whose first child was placed in care at birth (n = 776) was compared with mothers who received services from CPS (but whose children were not placed in care) (n = 4,270), and a 3:1 matched group of mothers who had no involvement with CPS in the first year of their firstborn's life (n = 2,328). Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of depression and anxiety diagnoses in the first year postpartum were obtained from logistic regression models. Adjusted rate ratios (ARR) of antidepressant use obtained using Poisson models. Results Mothers whose children were taken into care have greater odds of having a postpartum depression or anxiety diagnosis than mothers receiving services (AOR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.08-1.59) and those not involved with CPS (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI 1.67-2.73). Among mothers who had a postpartum depression or anxiety diagnosis, mothers whose children were placed in care had significantly higher rates of antidepressant use than mothers receiving services only (ARR = 2.00; 1.82, 2.19) and mothers who were not involved with CPS (ARR = 2.42; 95% CI 1.94-3.51). Conclusions for Practice Targeted programs should be implemented to address postpartum mental illness among mothers who are involved with CPS at the birth of their child.

Objectives To clarify the effectiveness of perinatal social support interventions in reducing postpartum depression among minority, low-income women. Methods The Transdisciplinary Research Consortium for Gulf Resilience on Women's Health supported a community-based participatory research project to improve perinatal health among low-income, first-time pregnant women living in a vulnerable Gulf Coast region. Community health workers (CHWs) were partnered with recruited women, and used a mix of mobile technology and home visits to develop a supportive relationship during the perinatal period. Results Women enrolled in the CHW-led intervention had lower (F: 2.38, p = 0.04) average postpartum depression scores (EPDS) 6 months postpartum than a comparison population. The difference, however, was not seen among women in the intervention group who reported relatively poor relationships with their CHWs. Conclusions for Practice Results reinforce the evidence that perinatal social support can affect postpartum depression outcomes. CHWs are increasingly utilized by public programs to reach at-risk populations. We discuss the potential efficacy of CHW programs, but also, the need to pair outreach with effective monitoring and evaluation of the relationship development between CHW and clients.

Introduction Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent condition with a serious impact. The early identification of women at risk for developing PPD allows for primary prevention and the delivery of timely appropriate referrals. This study investigated the validity and reliability of the postnatal version of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised (PDPI-R), an instrument widely studied internationally, in Portuguese women. Methods The sample consisted of 204 women who participated in an online cross-sectional survey. Participants completed the European Portuguese versions of the PDPI-R, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Postnatal Negative Thoughts Questionnaire at 1-2 months postpartum. Additionally, ROC analyses were performed to conduct an exploratory analysis of the instruments' predictive validity. Results The prevalence rates of clinical postpartum depressive symptoms were 27.5 and 14.2% using the cut-off scores of 9 and 12, respectively, on the EPDS. The European Portuguese postnatal version of the PDPI-R demonstrated acceptable reliability and satisfactory construct and convergent validity. When using the EPDS > 9 cut-off score, the exploratory analyses yielded a sensitivity of 76.8% and a specificity of 73.0% with a cut-off score of 5.5 [area under the curve = 0.816]. Discussion These preliminary findings encourage the use of the postnatal version of the PDPI-R as a screening tool to identify Portuguese women at high risk for developing PPD. Subsequent assessments are needed to support the routine application of the PDPI-R both in research and for clinical purposes.

Objectives This study explored perceived barriers and facilitators to disclosure of postpartum mood disorder (PPMD) symptoms to healthcare professionals among a community-based sample. Methods A sample of predominantly white, middle class, partnered, adult women from an urban area in the southeast United States (n = 211) within 3 years postpartum participated in an online survey including the Perceived Barriers to Treatment Scale, the Maternity Social Support Scale, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21, and items querying PPMD disclosure. Perceived barriers were operationalized as factors, from the patient's perspective, that impede or reduce the likelihood of discussing her postpartum mood symptoms with a healthcare provider. Analyses examined: (1) characteristics associated with perceived barriers; (2) characteristics associated with perceived social support; and (3) characteristics, perceived barriers, and perceived social support as predictors of disclosure. Results Over half of the sample reported PPMD symptoms, but one in five did not disclose to a healthcare provider. Approximately half of women reported at least one barrier that made help-seeking "extremely difficult" or "impossible." Over one-third indicated they had less than adequate social support. Social support and stress, but not barriers, were associated with disclosure in multivariable models. Conclusions for Practice Many women experiencing clinically-significant levels of distress did not disclose their symptoms of PPMD. Beyond universal screening, efforts to promote PPMD disclosure and help-seeking should target mothers' social support networks.

Objectives Postpartum anxiety (PPA) is as prevalent and disruptive as postpartum depression (PPD), although less commonly addressed. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), originally created to screen for PPD, was found to include anxiety and depression subscales. This study examined the construct validity of the EPDS PPD and PPA subscales by examining differential predictors of both in a structural regression model. Methods Women (n = 969) were recruited from a maternity ward in Jerusalem, Israel and completed a demographic survey; 715 (74%) women were screened for PPD and PPA at 6 weeks postpartum using the EPDS. Results History of depression was a significant predictor of PPD symptoms and PPA symptoms. Income and number of past pregnancies were significant predictors of PPA symptoms. Conclusions for practice PPD and PPA have different predictors, suggesting that the EPDS depression and anxiety subscales should be scored separately. Further assessment and treatment should be tailored to specific symptoms of depression and/or anxiety reported.

Objectives The role of perceived discrimination in postpartum depression is largely unknown. We investigate whether perceived discrimination reported in pregnancy contributes to postpartum depression, and whether its impact varies by education level. Methods Prospective data are a part of European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood, the Czech Republic. Surveys were collected in mid-pregnancy and at 6 months after delivery. Depression was measured using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Generalized linear models were estimated to test the effects of perceived discrimination on postpartum depression. Results Multivariate models revealed that among women with low education, discrimination in pregnancy was prospectively associated with 2.43 times higher odds of postpartum depression (p < .01), after adjusting for antenatal depression, history of earlier depression, and socio-demographic background. In contrast, perceived discrimination was not linked to postpartum depression among women with high education. Conclusions Perceived discrimination is a risk factor for postpartum depression among women with low education. Screening for discrimination and socio-economic disadvantage during pregnancy could benefit women who are at risk for mental health problems.

Purpose We describe results from a quality improvement project undertaken to address perinatal mental healthcare for women veterans. Description This quality improvement project was conducted in a single VA healthcare system between 2012 and 2015 and included screening for depressive symptoms with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) three times during the perinatal period, a dedicated maternity care coordinator (MCC), an on-site clinical social worker, and an on-site obstetrician/gynecologist (Ob/gyn). Information on prior mental health diagnosis was collected by the MCC or Ob/gyn. The prevalence of perinatal depressive symptoms and receipt of mental healthcare among those with such symptoms are reported by presence of a pre-pregnancy mental health diagnosis. Assessment Of the 199 women who used VA maternity benefits between 2012 and 2015, 56% (n = 111) had at least one pre-pregnancy mental health diagnosis. Compared to those without a pre-pregnancy mental health diagnosis, those with such a diagnosis were more likely to be screened for perinatal depressive symptoms at least once (61.5% vs. 46.8%, p = 0.04). Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 46.7% among those with a pre-pregnancy mental health diagnosis and 19.2% among those without. Among those with a pre-pregnancy mental health diagnosis and depressive symptoms (n = 35), 88% received outpatient mental healthcare and 77% met with the clinical social worker. Among those without a pre-pregnancy mental health diagnosis and depressive symptoms (n = 8), none received outpatient mental healthcare, but 77.8% met with the clinical social worker. Conclusion Improving perinatal mental healthcare for women veterans requires a multidisciplinary approach, including on-site integrated mental healthcare.

Objective To measure stigma associated with four types of postpartum depression therapies and to estimate the association between stigma and the acceptance of these therapies for black and white postpartum mothers. Methods Using data from two postpartum depression randomized trials, this study included 481 black and white women who gave birth in a large urban hospital and answered a series of questions at 6-months postpartum. Survey items included socio demographic and clinical factors, attitudes about postpartum depression therapies and stigma. The associations between race, stigma, and treatment acceptability were examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results Black postpartum mothers were less likely than whites to accept prescription medication (64 vs. 81%, p = 0.0001) and mental health counseling (87 vs. 93%, p = 0.001) and more likely to accept spiritual counseling (70 vs. 52%, p = 0.0002). Women who endorsed stigma about receipt of postpartum depression therapies versus those who did not were less likely to accept prescription medication, mental health and spiritual counseling for postpartum depression. Overall black mothers were less likely to report stigma associated with postpartum depression therapies. In adjusted models, black women versus white women remained less likely to accept prescription medication for postpartum depression (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.24-0.72) and stigma did not explain this difference. Conclusions Although treatment stigma is associated with lower postpartum depression treatment acceptance, stigma does not explain the lower levels of postpartum depression treatment acceptance among black women. More research is needed to understand treatment barriers for postpartum depression, especially among black women.

Background Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) could affect children's emotional development, increasing later risk of child psychological problems. The aim of our study was to assess the association between child's emotional and behavioural problems and mother's PPD, considering maternal current mental health problems (CMP). Methods This is a secondary analysis from the EU-Childhood Obesity Project (NCT00338689). Women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at, 2, 3 and 6 months after delivery and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to assess CMP once the children reached the age of 8 years. EPDS scores > 10 were defined as PPD and GHQ-12 scores > 2 were defined as CMP. The psychological problems of the children at the age of eight were collected by mothers through the Child's Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Results 473, 474 and 459 mothers filled in GHQ-12 and CBCL tests at 8 years and EPDS at 2, 3 and 6 months, respectively. Anxiety and depression was significantly increased by maternal EPDS. Children whose mothers had both PPD and CMP exhibited the highest levels of psychological problems, followed by those whose mothers who had only CMP and only PPD. PPD and CMP had a significant effect on child's total psychological problems (p = 0.033, p < 0.001, respectively). Children whose mothers had PPD did not differ from children whose mothers did not have any depression. Conclusions Maternal postpartum depression and current mental health problems, separately and synergistically, increase children's psychological problems at 8 years.

Objectives Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 10-20% of all mothers after giving birth. Adequate screening and follow-up care for the postpartum mother with depression is an essential component of quality care in this population. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the quality and quantity of a postnatal PPD screening program and the subsequent initiation of needed PPD treatment in an integrated health system. Methods After implementing a standardized PPD screening process, we conducted an 18-month retrospective study of patient visits that required a PPD screen. Data were abstracted from medical records and analyzed to determine if postnatal PPD screening occurred, what quality of the screening was, and what follow-up measures were taken. Results Within the study timeframe, 28,389 postpartum and well-child visits were eligible for PPD screening. PPD screening occurred at 88% of eligible visits for approximately 5000 unique women. PPD was identified in 8.1% of screened women. Conclusions Of women with PPD, at least 44.8% were prescribed an SSRI and 21.4% attended a visit with a mental health professional, which is consistent with other studies. Screening can be successful through collaboration, although ongoing evaluation and process modification are necessary.

Objectives: This study examines the main and moderating effects of childhood abuse or neglect severity, income, and family social support on the presence of postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS)., Methods: Participants included 183 postpartum mothers who endorsed a history of childhood maltreatment (CM) and enrolled in a longitudinal study of mother and child outcomes. Participants completed questionnaires to assess CM severity, associated societal and maternal characteristics, and depressive symptom severity., Results: The results confirm previously identified links between CM severity and PDS. Further, hierarchical linear regression analyses indicate the interaction of household income and interpersonal support from the family attenuates the relationship between CM severity and PDS. The final model accounted for 29% of the variance of PDS scores, a large effect size., Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate interrelationships between income and social support on resilience to postpartum psychopathology in childhood trauma-surviving women. Social support appeared to protect against PDS for all mothers in this study while income only conferred a protective effect when accompanied by family support. For clinicians, this implies the need to focus on improving family and other relationships, especially for at-risk mothers.

Objective Evidence suggests that women with postpartum depression (PPD) are at risk for early breastfeeding cessation, but previous studies have been limited by small samples. The objective of this analysis is to estimate the association between PPD symptoms and breastfeeding using a national, stratified, random sample of U.S. mothers. Methods Data from the 2010-2011 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System were analyzed for New York City and the 29 states for which data were available. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the association between a pre-pregnancy mental health visit and subsequent breastfeeding initiation as well as PPD and 3-month any and exclusive breastfeeding. To identify state-level variation, we created maps of prevalence and adjusted odds of breastfeeding by PPD and pre-pregnancy mental health status. Results Women reporting a pre-pregnancy mental health visit had 0.61 (95 % CI 0.56, 0.67) times the odds of initiating breastfeeding compared with women who reported no pre-pregnancy visit. At 3 months postpartum, women with PPD symptoms since birth had 0.79 (95 % CI 0.70, 0.88) times the odds of any breastfeeding and reduced odds of exclusive breastfeeding modified by race/ethnicity. We found variation in state-level PPD symptoms and pre-pregnancy mental health prevalence and adjusted odds of breastfeeding. Conclusions for Practice Our results highlight the importance of providing targeted breastfeeding support to women with PPD symptoms, because they are at risk of early breastfeeding cessation. Given the cross-sectional nature of these data, women with early breastfeeding cessation may also be at risk for PPD, requiring screening and treatment.

Objectives Young parents may be particularly vulnerable to poor mental health during the postpartum period. Little research exists, however, to adequately describe trajectories of depressive symptoms during their transition to parenthood, particularly among young fathers. Therefore, we aim to explore trajectories of depressive symptoms from pregnancy through 1 year postpartum among young expectant mothers and their partners. Methods Data are derived from a longitudinal cohort of pregnant adolescent females (ages 14-21; n = 220) and their male partners (n = 190). Multilevel regression models examined the impact of time on depressive symptoms, and generalized linear regression models examined predictors of experiencing elevated depressive symptoms. Results Depressive symptoms significantly decreased from pregnancy through 1 year postpartum among young females. Overall, depressive symptoms did not significantly change over time among young males. Predictors of elevated depressive symptoms common across genders included social support and relationship satisfaction. Marijuana use resulted in almost twice the odds of experiencing elevated depressive symptoms among young fathers (OR 1.82; 95 % CI 1.04, 3.20). Conclusion for Practice Providing strategies for strengthening social support networks among young parents may be an effective way to improve mental health among young parents, particularly during this period of potential social isolation. Additionally, providing tools to strengthen relationships between partners may also be effective for both young mothers and fathers. Substance use may be a marker for depressive symptoms among young fathers and thus screening for substance use could be important to improving their mental health. Future research is needed to better understand how IPV affects mental health, particularly among young fathers.

Objectives To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) among new mothers in Mississippi during 2009-2011 and evaluate the effects of different stressful life events in the year before delivery on the likelihood of PPD. Methods We used Mississippi Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) 2009-2011 data (n = 3695) to evaluate the effects of different stressful life events on PPD. We categorized 13 stressors into 4 groups: financial, relational, trauma-related, and emotional. A composite score of the mothers' responses (≥10) to the three items: "I felt down, depressed, or sad", "I felt hopeless", and "I felt slowed down" was used to measure PPD. The items were rated on a Likert scale from (1) never to 5 (always). Descriptive statistics, Chi square tests, t tests, and logistic regression analyses were conducted using SAS 9.3 Proc Survey procedure (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Results The overall prevalence of self-reported PPD was 14.8 %. Mothers who experienced high relational with low financial and high trauma related stresses had the highest likelihood of PPD diagnosis after adjusting for confounders (OR = 8.6; 95 % CI, 3.5-21.3), followed by those who reported high relational stress with low financial and low trauma stresses (OR = 5.9; 95 % CI, 3.5-10.2). Those with high financial, low relational, and low trauma had the least likelihood of PPD (OR = 2.2; 95 % CI, 1.6-3.0) compared to women with low stress in all three categories. Conclusion Our findings showed that the likelihood of PPD was higher among women who had high relational stress, indicating that efforts to effectively prevent PPD need to focus on healthy relationships between partners during pregnancy., Competing Interests: None of the authors have any financial or other conflict of interests to disclose. Disclaimer The findings and conclusions described in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Mississippi State Department of Health, the CDC, or any other organization.

Objectives Perinatal depression (PND) has been widely studied in the general population, but has been under studied in military populations. This literature review evaluates studies of PND in military service women and spouses of military servicemen. Methods Articles from peer-reviewed journals published from January 2005 to September 2015 were included if they reported on US military women and/or spouses of military servicemen who were screened for PND symptoms during the prenatal and/or postpartum periods; and were available in English. Qualitative studies were excluded. Studies were compared and contrasted by screening instrument, screening time-period, study population, deployment status as a unique risk factor, and results. Results Ten articles were included. Studies varied greatly in methodology and use of screening instruments and screening time-period, but collectively indicate a wide prevalence range of PND symptoms in military populations. Studies also indicate deployment status as a unique risk factor associated with PND symptoms. Common methodological issues include excluding women at high risk for PND, and not reporting if adequate clinical resources were readily available to ensure appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic services treatment for women who screened positive for PND. Conclusions for Practice PND is receiving increasing attention and military populations should be studied more closely to identify this condition, and understand the complex interactions of unique risk factors associated with a military way of life in order to implement more rigorous screening and early, appropriate intervention strategies.

Objective This study examined whether socioeconomic status moderated the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and postpartum depression among a community-based sample of women. Defining the role of poverty in the risk of postpartum depression for IPV victims enables prioritization of health promotion efforts to maximize the effectiveness of existing maternal-infant resources. Methods This cross-sectional telephone-survey study interviewed 301 postpartum women 2 months after delivery, screening them for IPV and depression [using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)]. Socioeconomic status was defined by insurance (Medicaid-paid-delivery or not). This analysis controlled for the following covariates, collected through interview and medical-record review: demographics, obstetric history, prenatal health and additional psychosocial risk factors. After adjusting for significant covariates, multiple linear regression was conducted to test whether socioeconomic status confounded or moderated IPV's relationship with EPDS-score. Results Ten percent of participants screened positive for postpartum depression, 21.3 % screened positive for current or previous adult emotional or physical abuse by a partner, and 32.2 % met poverty criteria. IPV and poverty were positively associated with each other (χ(2) (1) = 11.76, p < .001) and with EPDS score (IPV: beta 3.2 (CI 2.0, 4.5) p < .001, poverty: beta 1.3 (CI 0.2, 2.4) p = .017). In the multiple linear regression, IPV remained significantly associated, but poverty did not (IPV: adjusted beta 3.1 (CI 1.8, 4.3) p < .001, poverty: adjusted beta 0.8 (CI -0.3, 1.9) p = .141), and no statistically significant interaction between IPV and poverty was found. Conclusions Study findings illustrated that IPV was strongly associated with postpartum depression, outweighing the influence of socioeconomic status upon depression for postpartum women.

Background: Postpartum depression is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes for both the mother and infant. This study examines the relationship between a mother and/or her partner's pregnancy intentions and reported post-partum depressive symptoms (PPDs)., Methods: Using Louisiana pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system, 2000-2003, a secondary cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 5549 mothers, stratified by race, who delivered a singleton, live birth and whose infant was still alive at the time of the survey. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted, taking into account the complex survey design., Results: In multivariable models, unwanted pregnancies were associated with severe PPDs (aOR 1.76, 95 % CI 1.23-2.53). Furthermore, the association between husbands/partners' who did not want or care about the pregnancy and mild PPDs remained for White women (aOR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.02-1.69); while among Black women, neither parent's pregnancy intention were associated with mild or severe PPDs., Conclusions: This study supports existing research demonstrating the association between pregnancy intention and PPDs. This study contributes to the limited information on the role that partner pregnancy intention plays on maternal mental health outcomes, however further discussion is needed on the impact of this role across races. Findings can be used in programs aiming to reduce adverse mental health outcomes among high-risk mothers.

Objectives: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was originally created as a uni-dimensional scale to screen for postpartum depression (PPD); however, evidence from various studies suggests that it is a multi-dimensional scale measuring mainly anxiety in addition to depression. The factor structure of the EPDS seems to differ across various language translations, raising questions regarding its stability. This study examined the factor structure of the Hebrew version of the EPDS to assess whether it is uni- or multi-dimensional., Methods: Seven hundred and fifteen (n = 715) women were screened at 6 weeks postpartum using the Hebrew version of the EPDS. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test four models derived from the literature., Results: Of the four CFA models tested, a 9-item two factor model fit the data best, with one factor representing an underlying depression construct and the other representing an underlying anxiety construct., Conclusions: for Practice The Hebrew version of the EPDS appears to consist of depression and anxiety sub-scales. Given the widespread PPD screening initiatives, anxiety symptoms should be addressed in addition to depressive symptoms, and a short scale, such as the EPDS, assessing both may be efficient.

Objectives: Unintentional injury among infants is a major public health issue; however, the relationship between unintentional infant injury and postpartum depression remains unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the association between the two., Methods: We administered an original questionnaire to mothers participating in a 3- or 4-month health check-up program (target n = 9707). This questionnaire assessed infant health, including types of unintentional injury experiences used in previous study, and maternal mental health such as postpartum depression, by the validated screening tool, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Associations between infant injury and postpartum depression were assessed using logistic regression adjusted for covariates, including parental, infant, and household characteristics., Results: In total, 6534 women responded to the questionnaire with valid answers on the EPDS (valid response rate, 67 %). Of the sample, 9.8 % of infants experienced unintentional injury (fall: 5.6 %; near-drowning: 1.2 %), and 9.5 % of mothers had postpartum depression (EPDS score of 9+). After adjusting for covariates, postpartum depression was significantly positively associated with any unintentional injury (odds ratio [OR] 1.59, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.24-2.04), and falls (OR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.02-1.95), although near-drowning was not significantly associated., Conclusion: Postpartum depression might be a risk factor for unintentional injury of infants aged up to 4 months. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the association between postpartum depression and unintentional injury of infants.

Maternal depression is a common health problem during the perinatal period. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the relationship between socioeconomic position and maternal depressive symptoms from prenatal to 3 years postpartum in Korean women. Prospective cohort data were collected from the Panel Study on Korean Children between 2008 and 2011. Maternal depression was assessed using the Kessler 6-Item Psychological Distress Scale. Socioeconomic position indicators used were maternal education, paternal education, maternal occupation, paternal occupation, and household income. Repeated-measures analyses with a generalized estimating equation approach were used to investigate relationships between socioeconomic position and maternal depressive symptoms during the study period. Low socioeconomic position was associated with greater levels of maternal depressive symptoms between 4 months after childbirth and 3 years postpartum, but the association was not evident between 1 month before and after childbirth. The magnitude of the significant association between socioeconomic position and maternal depression was the greatest at 1 year postpartum but then became smaller. Among the five socioeconomic position indicators included, maternal education, paternal education, and household income showed graded inverse relationships with maternal depressive symptoms, while no significant relationship was found for paternal occupation over the study period. Socioeconomic inequalities in maternal depressive symptoms emerged in early childhood in a prospective study of Korean mothers. These emerging inequalities may contribute to socioeconomic inequalities in childhood health and development.

In the presence of physical and psychological disturbances in the postpartum period, perceived social support is often regarded as a protective factor in women's mental health. This work evaluates the psychometric properties of the French version of a questionnaire widely used internationally to measure perceived social support, which has not been yet validated in French: the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). This study collected data from 148 women (30.5 ± 5.12 years) who agreed to complete the MSPSS and a scale assessing symptoms of postpartum depression (Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale, EPDS) 1 and 4 months after childbirth. The results confirm the original three-factor structure of the scale. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients are excellent. The total scale score is correlated with all three dimensions and a significantly negative correlation is found between MSPSS and EPDS. The results suggest that the French tool has generally good internal reliability. The MSPSS can provide useful data helping to identify French-speaking people at risk for negative feelings (e.g., mood disorders of perinatal period).

Using data from two postpartum depression randomized trials, we examined the association between postpartum depressive symptoms and parenting practices among a diverse group of mothers. We examined the association between safety practices (back sleep position, car seat use, smoke alarm), feeding practices (breastfeeding, infant intake of cereal, juice, water), and health care practices (routine well child and Emergency Room (ER) visits) with 3-month postpartum depressive symptoms assessed using the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EPDS ≥10). Fifty-one percent of mothers were black or Latina, 33 % had Medicaid, and 30 % were foreign born. Depressed mothers were less likely to have their infant use back sleep position (60 vs. 79 %, p < .001), always use a car seat (67 vs. 84 %, p < .001), more likely to feed their infants water, juice, or cereal (36 vs. 25 %, p = .04 respectively), and to bring their babies for ER visits (26 vs. 16 %, p = .03) as compared with non-depressed mothers. In multivariable model, depressed mothers remained less likely to have their infant use the back sleep position, to use a car seat, and to have a working smoke alarm in the home. Findings suggest the need to intervene early among mothers with depressive symptoms and reinforce positive parenting practices.

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of father involvement on infant distress among children born to teen mothers, particularly those who are depressed. 119 teen mothers (<20 years) and their infants (<6 months) enrolled in a quasi-experimental trial of a comprehensive pediatric primary care program. Data were drawn from mother-reported questionnaires administered at baseline, before participation in the intervention or comparison conditions. 29 % of teen mothers screened positive for depression. Mothers reported that 78 % of fathers were engaged with their children, typically seeing them a few times per month, and 71 % took financial responsibility for their children. In a multiple linear regression, father responsibility predicted lower infant distress, maternal depression predicted higher infant distress, and there was a significant interaction in which father engagement buffered the effect of maternal depression on infant distress. Fathers may be a protective resource for children born to teen mothers, even as early as the first 6 months of life, potentially mitigating the heightened risk associated with maternal depression in the postpartum period.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of maternal postpartum depression and/or anxiety disorders according to DMS-IV on maternal self-confidence throughout infancy and early childhood. Exploratively, associations between maternal attachment insecurity and maternal self-confidence at pre-school age were examined. The sample (N = 54) of this prospective longitudinal study was comprised of n = 27 women with postpartum depression and/or anxiety disorders according to DSM-IV criteria and n = 27 healthy women without present or history of mental health disorders or psychotherapy. Data was collected in the postpartum period (M = 60.08 days) and at pre-school age (M = 4.7 years). Subjects were recruited between 2004 and 2011 in South Germany. Data revealed a significant difference in maternal self-confidence between clinical and control group at child's pre-school age: Women with postpartum depression and/or anxiety disorder scored lower on maternal self-confidence than healthy controls, but only if they had current SCID-diagnoses or partly remitted symptoms. According to explorative analyses maternal attachment insecurity turned out to be the strongest predictor of maternal self-confidence at pre-school age besides maternal mental health status. The results emphasize the impact of attachment insecurity and maternal mental health regarding maternal self-confidence leading to potential adverse long-term consequences for the mother-child relationship. Attachment based interventions taking maternal self-confidence into account are needed.

To estimate whether there is a temporal association between Postpartum Depression (PPD) and intimate partner violence (IPV), and to assess the potential role of social support on this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2006 and March 2007 with 701 low income women who received prenatal and postpartum care in primary health care units of the public sector in São Paulo, Brazil. The Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to assess the presence of PPD. Structured standardized questionnaires were used to assess IPV and social support. The prevalence of PPD was estimated with a 95 % confidence interval. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated using Poisson regression to examine the association between PPD and exposure variables. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The prevalence of PPD was 27.9 % (95 %CI 24.6:31.2). The prevalence of psychological IPV was 38.6 %, physical IPV 23.4 %, and sexual IPV 7.1 %. The multivariate analysis showed that PPD was strongly associated with current psychological and physical/sexual violence, after controlling for confounding factors, and less so with past (prenatal or lifetime) IPV. Presence of social support was an independent protective factor for PPD. Identifying and addressing intimate partner violence, including psychological violence, in the postpartum period should be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to caring for new mothers.

Our objective was to assess whether postpartum depression risk factors differ between adolescent and adult mothers and to evaluate the need for adolescent specific screening instruments. We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the Rhode Island Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2004-2008. We identified maternal age specific risk factors using weighted logistic regression and developed predictive models using a forward selected weighted logistic regression. Notable differences in odds ratios were observed for risk factors such as maternal race (OR Hispanic vs. White: 0.99, 95 % CI 0.49-1.99 among adolescents; 3.32, 95 % CI 2.01-5.49 among adults), pre-pregnancy alcohol use (OR use vs. non-use: 2.04, 95 % CI 1.08-3.86 among adolescents; 0.49, 95 % CI 0.33-0.73 among adults), and pregnancy intention (OR unintended vs. intended: 1.05, 95 % CI 0.37-2.97 among adolescents; 2.67, 95 % CI 1.51-4.74 among adults). In predictive models, adolescent postpartum depressive symptoms were most influenced by prior depression and social support while adult postpartum depressive symptoms were associated with risk factors including maternal race, pregnancy intention, SES, prior depression, mental health during pregnancy, stressors, and social support. We were able to identify similarities and dissimilarities in risk factors for postpartum depressive symptoms among adolescents and adults. Predictive models developed in the general population of pregnant women performed poorly among adolescents relative to age specific predictive models, suggesting that current screening tools may not adequately identify high risk adolescents.

Childhood emotional and behavioural disorders are prevalent, can cause significant maladaptation and often persist into adulthood. Previous literature investigating the potential influence of postpartum depression (PPD) is inconsistent. The present study examined the association between PPD and childhood behavioural/emotional outcomes, while considering a number of potentially important factors. Data were analyzed prospectively from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth at two follow-up periods (ages 2-3, N = 1,452 and ages 4-5, N = 1,357). PPD was measured using the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV-TR. Four behavioural/emotional outcomes were analyzed at each follow-up. For both age groups, logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between PPD and each of the behavioural and emotional outcomes adjusting for child, obstetric, environmental and socio-demographic factors. PPD was associated with the Emotional Disorder-Anxiety among 2-3 year olds [OR = 2.38, 95 % CI 1.15, 4.91]. Among 2-3 year olds, hostile/ineffective parenting was associated with Hyperactivity-Inattention [OR = 1.88, 95 % CI 1.14, 3.11] and Physical Aggression-Opposition [OR = 2.95, 95 % CI 1.77, 4.92]. Among 4-5 year olds, hostile/ineffective parenting was associated with Hyperactivity-Inattention [OR = 2.34, 95 % CI 1.22, 4.47], Emotional Disorder-Anxiety [OR = 2.16, 95 % CI 1.00, 4.67], Physical Aggression-Conduct Disorder [OR = 1.96, 95 % CI 1.09, 3.53] and Indirect Aggression [OR = 1.87, 95 % CI 1.09, 3.21]. The findings of the present study do not suggest that PPD is independently associated with any enduring sequelae in the realm of child behavioural/emotional psychology, though the symptoms of PPD may be giving way to other important mediating factors such as parenting style.

Research has indicated that social support is a major buffer of postpartum depression. Yet little is known concerning women's perceptions on social support during the postpartum period. The objective of this study was to explore postpartum women's views and experiences with social support following childbirth. Four focus groups were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of women (n = 33) in a large urban teaching hospital in New York City. Participants had completed participation in a postpartum depression randomized trial and were 6-12 months postpartum. Data transcripts were reviewed and analyzed for themes. The main themes identified in the focus group discussions were mother's major needs and challenges postpartum, social support expectations and providers of support, how mothers mobilize support, and barriers to mobilizing support. Women across all groups identified receipt of instrumental support as essential to their physical and emotional recovery. Support from partners and families was expected and many women believed this support should be provided without asking. Racial/ethnic differences existed in the way women from different groups mobilized support from their support networks. Instrumental support plays a significant role in meeting women's basic needs during the postpartum period. In addition, women's expectations surrounding support can have an impact on their ability to mobilize support among their social networks. The results of this study suggest that identifying support needs and expectations of new mothers is important for mothers' recovery after childbirth. Future postpartum depression prevention efforts should integrate a strong focus on social support.

Children of depressed mothers have been shown to express behaviour problems to a greater extent than children of non-depressed mothers. The purpose of this study was to examine the persistence of depressive symptoms in mothers and to evaluate the relative importance of symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) and concurrent maternal symptoms of depression, on child behaviour at age 12. A birth cohort of 1,707 children and their mothers was followed from 3 months after birth to 12 years after birth. Self-reported symptoms of depression in mothers were assessed at baseline and 12-year follow-up where 893 mothers (52.3 %) and their children participated. The mothers' reports on the behaviour of their children at age 12 were used. Multivariate analysis was used to assess factors that increased the risk of child behaviour problems. At baseline, 10.4 % scored above the cutoff for symptoms of postpartum depression. At follow up, 18.2 % scored above the cutoff for depressive symptoms. Multivariate analysis showed that ongoing maternal symptoms of depression, as distinct from PPD-symptoms, was the strongest predictor of child behaviour problems at age 12. The gender of the child and socio-demographic factors at baseline were additional factors that affected the risk of behaviour problems in the 12 year old children. Children of mothers who reported symptoms of depression, both postpartum and at follow-up, were at a greater risk of behaviour problems compared to children of women with no depressive symptoms on either occasion. Our findings indicate that recurrent and ongoing maternal depressive symptoms significantly increase the risk of child behaviour problems as reported by mothers, while symptoms of PPD do not seem to result in an increased risk of behaviour problems in 12 year olds. High maternal socio-demographic life stress at childbirth constitutes an important risk factor for later child behaviour problems.

There is increasing interest in the study of the social determinants of maternal and child health. While there has been growth in the theory and empirical evidence about social determinants, less attention has been paid to the kind of modeling that should be used to understand the impact of social exposures on well-being. We analyzed data from the nationwide 2006 Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey to compare the pervasive disease-specific model to a model that captures the generalized health impact (GHI) of social exposures, namely low socioeconomic position. The GHI model uses a composite of adverse conditions that stem from low socioeconomic position: adverse birth outcomes, postpartum depression, severe abuse, stressful life events, and hospitalization during pregnancy. Adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals from disease-specific models for low income (<20,000/year) compared to high income (≥ 80,000/year) ranged from a low of 1.43 (1.09-1.85) for adverse birth outcomes to a high of 5.69 (3.59-8.84) for stressful life events. Estimates from the GHI model for experiencing three to five conditions yielded a prevalence ratio of 18.72 (9.29-35.77) and a total population attributable fraction of 78%. While disease-specific models are important for uncovering etiological factors for specific conditions, models that capture GHIs might be an attractive alternative when the focus of interest is on measuring and understanding the myriad consequences of adverse social determinants of health.

To identify risk factors for discontinuing breastfeeding during an infant's first year of life. A cohort study recruited mothers in a hospital in São Leopoldo, Brazil, which mainly serves the low-income population. In order to obtain socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral information, face-to-face interviews with mothers were conducted after birth, and when their infants were 6 and 12 months old. The duration of breastfeeding was investigated at 6 and 12 months, and recorded separately for each month. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory. The multivariate model for predicting the discontinuation of breastfeeding, adjusted Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression were used. Of the 360 participants, 201 (55.8%) discontinued breastfeeding within the first 12 months. A multivariate Cox regression model revealed that symptoms of maternal depression (low levels: RR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.02-2.47; moderate to severe: RR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.35-3.01), bottle feeding (RR = 2.07, 95% CI 1.31-3.28) and pacifier use in the first month of life (RR = 3.12, 95% CI 2.13-4.57) were independently associated with the outcomes after adjusting for confounders. Breastfeeding cessation rates were lower for children who did not use bottle feeding or a pacifier in the first month of life and for the children whose mothers presented with minimal depression. Early pacifier use and bottle feeding must be strongly discouraged to support long-term breastfeeding. In addition, screening maternal depression at a primary care service can be a step forward in promoting a longer duration of breastfeeding.

Perinatal depression, a prevalent condition with negative consequences for the mother, infant and family, has been reported in many countries. This study aimed to assess the scope of depressive symptoms among pregnant and postnatal Israeli Arab women and to identify possible risk factors. Data were collected from a screening program at 58 Mother-Child Health Care clinics in northern Israel from June to December, 2009. Participants included 1,254 pregnant and 2,326 postnatal women. The rate of antenatal depressive symptoms, i.e., a score of ≥10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was 20.8%. Women attending clinics with primarily religious or traditional populations had lower rates antenatally than did those described as secular. During the postnatal period 16.3% of the women scored ≥10 on the EPDS. The rate of postnatal depressive symptoms was significantly higher among women living in Moslem than Druze communities (EPDS ≥ 10: 19.0% vs. 13.4%, respectively, P = 0.01). Postnatally, there were no significant differences according to SES cluster, community size, or religious orientation. The rate of antenatal and postnatal depression among Arab women in northern Israel was somewhat higher than that of Jewish Israeli women in the same region, and considerably lower than that of Arab Bedouin women in southern Israel. Given the differences in their life styles and circumstances, health policy authorities should be informed regarding the needs of these various sub-populations.

To examine factors associated with provider-patient conversations regarding prenatal and postpartum depressed mood. This study included 3,597 White, African American, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander NYC resident women who completed the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey from 2004-2007, a population-based assessment of patient and health care characteristics. Social determinants including race, nativity, maternal age, prenatal health care setting, and payment type were associated with patient report of having had a conversation about perinatal mood with their provider. Compared to Whites, Asian/Pacific Islanders were less likely to have this conversation (OR = 0.7, CI = 0.5-0.9). Older (OR = 0.6, CI = 0.4-0.9), non-US born (OR = 0.6, CI = 0.5-0.8), and women receiving care from a private doctor or HMO clinic (OR = 0.7, CI = 0.6-0.9) were less likely to have this conversation compared to their respective counterparts. Those who paid for their prenatal care primarily through personal income or through an expanded Medicaid program for prenatal care compared to those who did not were more likely to have had a conversation about mood with their providers. Health care providers and public health advocates should be aware that non-US born women were less likely to have conversations about mood than US born women. However, young mothers shown to be at risk for perinatal depression were more likely to have these conversations compared to older women. Protocols for assessing and educating patients about perinatal mood should be evaluated to improve conversation rates for those receiving care through private doctors and managed care organizations. Income and prenatal care assistance funds may play separate and important roles in provider-patient conversations.

Appropriate measurement of socioeconomic status (SES) in health research can be problematic. Conventional SES measures based on 'objective' indicators such as income, education, or occupation may have questionable validity in certain populations. The objective of this investigation was to determine if a relatively new measurement of SES, subjective social status (SSS), was more consistently and strongly associated with multiple health outcomes for low income mothers. Data available from a large scale community-based study examining maternal and infant health for a low income urban population were used to examine relationships between SSS and a wide range of postpartum physical and emotional health outcomes. Crosstabulations and multivariate analyses focused on the breadth and depth of these relationships; in addition, the relative strength of the relationships between SSS and the health outcomes was compared to that of conventional measures of SES, including both income and education. SSS was significantly related to all physical and emotional health outcomes examined. The overall pattern of findings indicated that these relationships were independent of, as well as more consistent and stronger than, those between conventional measures of SES and postpartum health outcomes. SSS represents an important dimension of the relationship between SES and postpartum physical and emotional health. In low income populations the failure to account for this dimension likely underestimates the influence of SES on postpartum health. This has important implications for the interpretation of findings in empirical studies which seek to control for the effects of SES on maternal health outcomes.