Prevalence and risk factors of maternal depression among women who participated in a home visitation program in South Korea

Purpose The psychosocial health of mother is crucial for healthy prenatal period and early childhood. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of maternal depression during pregnancy and postpartum among women who participated in a home visitation program in Seoul, South Korea (Seoul Healthy First Step Project, SHFSP). Methods We analyzed 80,116 women who participated in the SHFSP, which was launched by Seoul metropolitan government in 2013, and defined peripartum depression as a score >= 10 on the Korean version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Sociodemographic factors and psychosocial health status were evaluated through a standardized questionnaire completed by participants upon program registration. We calculated the prevalence of women at risk for peripartum depression and evaluated associated factors by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results Prevalence of women at risk for peripartum depression was 17.7% (prepartum depression: 14.2%, postpartum depression: 24.3%). Younger maternal age, low income (OR 2.40, 95% CI 2.03-2.84), disability (2.61, 1.96-3.47), single parenthood (3.27, 2.69-3.99), and smoking (2.02, 1.44-2.83) increased the peripartum depression risk. Furthermore, experience of stress, change, or loss over the past 12 months (3.36, 3.22-3.50), history of treatment for emotional issues (2.47, 2.27-2.70), experience of child abuse (1.91, 1.74-2.11), and domestic violence (2.25, 1.81-2.80) increased the risk for peripartum depression, whereas having helpers for the baby (0.62, 0.58-0.67), having someone to talk with (0.31, 0.27-0.35), and considering oneself confident (0.30, 0.29-0.31) decreased the risk. Conclusions Policies to reduce and manage peripartum depression should be strengthened, with a focus on high-risk pregnant and puerperal women.

Automated summary

The prevalence of peripartum depression among women in Seoul, South Korea was 17.7%, with 14.2% experiencing depression during pregnancy and 24.3% experiencing it postpartum. Risk factors included younger maternal age, low income, disability, single parenthood, smoking, stress, emotional issues, child abuse, and domestic violence. Protective factors included having helpers for the baby, having someone to talk with, and considering oneself confident.