Prevalence and characteristics of depression among pregnant women in Southwest China:a prospective cohort study

HUANG Xiuhua; WANG Ying; WANG Yuqiong; GUO Xiujing; WANG Wenxia; SHEN Jing

doi:10.12102/j.issn.1009-6493.2024.09.002

Abstract：Objective:To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of depression at different stages of pregnancy in Southwest China.Methods:This study was a prospective multicenter study,and the research time was from March 2018 to May 2019.The pregnant women who were diagnosed with pregnancy and underwent systematic prenatal examination in 4 obstetrics and gynecology hospitals at different levels(ministerial,provincial,municipal and district)in Chengdu of China were selected as the research objects using stratified sampling and convenient sampling.The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and self-designed general questionnaire were used to investigate the pregnant women in the first,second and third trimesters of pregnancy,and the influencing factors of pregnancy depression were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 051 pregnant women completed the whole study.Among them,346(32.92%)had depression in the first trimester,208(19.79%)in the second trimester and 215(20.46%)in the third trimester.77(7.33%)had depression in three consecutive periods,135(12.84%)had depression in any two periods,268(25.50%)had depression in any one period,and 571(54.33%)had no depression.Compared with the non-depression group,the relationship with parents-in-law,the relationship between husband and wife,the occurrence of major events at home,the worry about dystocia and taking care of children by themselves were the independent influencing factors of the continuous depression group(P＜0.05).Compared with the depression group of any one stage,the relationship between husband and wife,major events at home,fear of dystocia and spouse's expectation of fetal gender(male)were independent influencing factors of the continuous depression group(P＜0.05).Compared with the depression group of any two stages,the spouse's expectation of sex for the fetus(male)was an independent factor for the continuous depression group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Depression occurs in all trimesters of pregnancy.Compared with the second and third trimesters,the incidence and severity of depression in the first trimester are the highest.Attention should be paid to the psychological status of pregnant women in early pregnancy,and psychological screening and intervention should be carried out from early pregnancy.For women with continuous depression during pregnancy,we should help them establish a good relationship with husband,encourage pregnant women to build up confidence in childbirth,and guide spouses to hold a correct attitude towards the gender of their children,so as to improve their depression status and promote the health of mothers and children.