title: Postpartum depression prevalence and impact on infant health, weight, and sleep in low-income and ethnic minority women and infants.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of maternal depressive symptoms at 5 and 9 months postpartum in a low-income and predominantly Hispanic sample, and evaluate the impact on infant weight gain, physical health, and sleep at 9 months. Participants included 132 low-income mother-infant pairs who participated in a larger investigation on prenatal care utilization. Mothers were interviewed in person 24-48 h after birth and by phone at 5 and 9 months postpartum. Clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms were reported in 33% of the women at 5 months postpartum, and 38% at 9 months postpartum. Higher depressive symptoms at 5 months were associated with less infant weight gain from 5 to 9 months, p = .002, increased infant physical health concerns, p = .05, and increased infant nighttime awakenings at 9 months, p = .001. Results suggest a striking prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms through 9 months postpartum in this very low income, largely ethnic minority sample. Further, the effects of postpartum depression include significant ramifications for infant physical health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jenna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gress-Smith
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Luecken
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lemery-Chalfant
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012890:Sleep; D055815:Young Adult