Symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression among women in Canada: findings from a national cross-sectional survey

• Published in: Canadian journal of public health Vol. 112; no. 2; pp. 244 - 252
• Main Authors: Gheorghe, Mihaela, Varin, Mélanie, Wong, Suzy L., Baker, Melissa, Grywacheski, Vera, Orpana, Heather
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-04-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety disorders; Birth; Cross-sectional studies; Generalized anxiety disorder; Maternal & child health; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mental health; Polls & surveys; Postpartum; Postpartum depression; Pregnancy; Public Health; Quantitative Research; Regression analysis; Regression models; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Womens health; Canada; Pregnancy; anxiété post-partum; Postpartum anxiety disorder; Mental health; grossesse; Postpartum depression; Santé maternelle; santé mentale; Maternal health; dépression post-partum
• ISSN: 0008-4263; 1920-7476
• DOI: 10.17269/s41997-020-00420-4

Objective
This study presents national estimates on symptoms consistent with postpartum anxiety (PPA) and postpartum depression (PPD) and the association between these conditions and possible risk and protective factors in women who gave birth in Canada.
Methods
Data were collected through the Survey on Maternal Health, a cross-sectional survey administered in Canada’s ten provinces between November 2018 and February 2019 among women who gave birth between January 1 and June 30, 2018. A total of 6558 respondents were included. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated, and logistic regression was used to model the relationship between symptoms consistent with PPA, PPD, and potential risk factors.
Results
Overall, 13.8% of women had symptoms consistent with PPA, while the prevalence of having symptoms consistent with PPD was 17.9%. Results of the logistic regression models indicated that women who had a history of depression were 3.4 times (95% CI 2.7–4.2) more likely to experience symptoms consistent with PPA and 2.6 times more likely to experience symptoms consistent with PPD (95% CI 2.2–3.2) compared with those who did not. Women who reported good, fair, or poor physical health were 2.4 times more likely to experience symptoms consistent with PPD (95% CI 2.0–2.9) and 2.0 times more likely to experience symptoms consistent with PPA (95% CI 1.7–2.4) compared with those who reported very good or excellent health. Maternal marital status, other postpartum maternal support, and sense of community belonging were also significant.
Conclusion
This study highlights that a history of depression and good, fair, or poor physical health are associated with an increased odds of symptoms consistent with PPA and PPD, while other maternal support and sense of community belonging are associated with a decreased odds of these conditions.