An examination of prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms among women served by urban community health centers

Abbey C. Sidebottom, Wendy L. Hellerstedt, Patricia A. Harrison, Deborah Hennrikus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

We characterized depressive symptoms in the prenatal and/or postpartum periods and examined associated risk factors among 594 women who received care at community health care centers. Women were screened with comprehensive risk assessments, which included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression screen, during pregnancy and at least 4 weeks after delivery. Fifteen percent had depressive symptoms in the prenatal period only; 6 % in the postpartum period only, and 8 % had depressive symptoms in both periods. Risk markers varied for women who reported depressive symptoms at one period only compared with those who reported persistent depressive symptoms. Age (25 years versus younger), having experienced abuse, not living with the infant's father, and cigarette smoking were associated with depressive symptoms at both periods; being US-born, lacking social support, and experiencing food insecurity were associated with reporting symptoms only in the prenatal period, and lack of phone access was associated with risk only in the postpartum period. Our findings confirm the importance of repeated screenings for depressive symptoms during the perinatal period. The variability in risk markers associated with periods of reported depressive symptoms may reflect their varying associations with persistence, new onset, or recovery from depressive symptoms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)27-40
Number of pages14
JournalArchives of Women's Mental Health
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was conducted through the Twin Cities Healthy Start program, one of 105 programs funded through the United States’ Healthy Start Initiative by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The United States’ Healthy Start Initiative targets funding to communities with high rates of infant mortality. The Twin Cities Healthy Start Program covered specific geographic communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota, USA. It served primarily African Americans and American Indians, the two groups with the highest long-term rates of infant mortality locally and statewide in Minnesota (Minnesota Department of Health ). The local program, administered by the Minneapolis Department of Health, offered outreach and case management services to women who received prenatal care at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). FQHCs are typically located in—and serve—medically underserved communities that are home to disproportionate numbers of families living in poverty.

Keywords

  • Depression screening
  • Postpartum depression
  • Prenatal depression

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An examination of prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms among women served by urban community health centers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this