The prevalence and risk factors of depression in prenatal and postnatal women in China with the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019

Chuanxiao Li; Lijuan Huo; Ruoxi Wang; Ling Qi; Wenjia Wang; Xin Zhou; Yongjie Zhou; Xiangyang Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.019

The prevalence and risk factors of depression in prenatal and postnatal women in China with the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019

J Affect Disord. 2021 Mar 1:282:1203-1209. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.019. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Authors

Chuanxiao Li¹, Lijuan Huo², Ruoxi Wang³, Ling Qi⁴, Wenjia Wang⁵, Xin Zhou⁶, Yongjie Zhou⁷, Xiangyang Zhang⁸

Affiliations

¹ CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
² Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
³ School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
⁴ School of Health Science and Nursing, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China.
⁵ CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
⁶ Research Center for Psychological and Health Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
⁷ Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: qingzhu1108@126.com.
⁸ CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhangxy@psych.ac.cn.

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of depression increase with the outbreaks of epidemic disease. The prevalence of depression during the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in prenatal and postnatal women was examined in China.

Methods: 2201 prenatal and postnatal women in mainland China were recruited in this cross-sectional study from February 28^th to April 26^th, 2020. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression in prenatal and postnatal women.

Results: The prevalence rate of depression was 35.4%. The risk factors for depression included drinking (p = 0.04; adjusted OR = 2.81, 95%CI: 1.26~6.24), nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (p < 0.001; adjusted OR = 3.54, 95%CI: 1.10~11.44), pregnancy's influence on mobility (p = 0.02; adjusted OR = 1.42, 95%CI: 1.11~1.83), anxiety (p < 0.001; adjusted OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.57~1.75), insomnia (p < 0.001; adjusted OR = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.14~1.21) and daily attention to fetal movement (p < 0.001; adjusted OR = 0.41, 95%CI: 0.31~0.56).

Limitations: This study used a cross-sectional design, and cannot compare changes in the incidence of depression before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Conclusions: During the COVID-19 outbreak, the prevalence rate of depression among Chinese prenatal and postnatal women was 35.4%. Moreover, anxiety, insomnia, drinking, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, as well as the impaired movement and less daily monitoring of fetal movement were risk factors for depression.

Keywords: Anxiety; Corona Virus Disease 2019; Depression; Insomnia; Maternal health.

MeSH terms

Anxiety
COVID-19*
China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression* / epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks
Female
Humans
Mental Health
Pregnancy
Prevalence
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2
Surveys and Questionnaires