Prevalence of antenatal depression in women enrolled in an outreach program in Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of depression and its correlates in pregnancy and to establish the appropriateness of using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale with inner-city, high-risk pregnant women.


METHODS
Convenience sample of women enrolled in a prenatal outreach program. Women were recruited and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered during home visits.


METHODS
39 women, most of whom were Aboriginal, participating in a prenatal outreach program.


METHODS
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of >or=10 suggests minor depressive symptoms and >or=13 suggests probable major depression.


RESULTS
27% of women reported symptoms consistent with major depression. The Aboriginal women had higher levels of depressive symptoms than the non-Aboriginal women. Women who had stopped using tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy had more depressive symptoms than those who had quit before pregnancy. Acceptability of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for use with high-risk, Aboriginal, and non-Aboriginal pregnant women was supported.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of depressive symptoms and concurrent substance use within this population is a major public health problem. Nurses can incorporate the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale into routine prenatal visits to identify women at risk for depression.
Bowen
Angela
A
Community Health & Epidemiology in the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. angela.bowen@usask.ca
Muhajarine
Nazeem
N
D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012525:Saskatchewan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data