Perinatal depression among mothers in a South African birth cohort study: Trajectories from pregnancy to 18 months postpartum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Perinatal depression affects 21-50% of women in South Africa and poses significant health risks to mothers and children. Trajectories of depressive symptoms change over time and have not been well characterized during the perinatal period in low and middle-income countries.

Methods

Data from women enrolled in a population-based birth cohort study in Paarl, South Africa with at least 3 depression measures from pregnancy through 18 months postpartum (N = 831) were analyzed. Depressive symptoms were measured continuously using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Group-based trajectory models were used to estimate trajectories of depressive symptoms during the perinatal period and multinomial multivariable models to identify predictors of trajectory group

SUBMITTER: Pellowski JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6851529 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature