title: Prevalence and risk factors for postpartum depression symptoms among women with disabilities.
abstract: The adverse consequences of postpartum depression on the health of the mother and her child are well documented. However, there is little information on postpartum depression among mothers with disabilities. This study examines the patterns of depression and depressive symptoms before, during and after pregnancy and the association between depression before and during pregnancy and postpartum depression symptomatology (PPD) among women with and without disabilities. Data from the 2009-2011 Rhode Island Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) were analyzed in 2013. Almost 30% (28.9%; 95% CI 22.8-35.8) of mothers with disabilities reported often or always feeling down, depressed or sad after childbirth compared to 10% of those without disabilities (95% CI 8.9-11.3). Compared to other women in the study, women with disabilities had a greater likelihood for PPD symptoms (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2) after accounting for sociodemographics, maternal characteristics related to PPD, and depression before and during pregnancy. Adjusting for other covariates, self-reported prenatal diagnosis of depression was not associated with symptoms of PPD and depression during pregnancy was marginally associated with PPD symptomatology for women with disabilities. Women with disabilities are at a greater risk of experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression than other women. Screening for PPD among new mothers with disabilities and timely referral of those with PPD diagnosis are vital to the health of mothers with disabilities and their children.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Policy and Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 333 South Street, Shrewsbury, MA, 01545, USA, monika.mitra@umassmed.edu.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Lisa I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Iezzoni
authors.forename: Jianying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Long-Bellil
authors.forename: Suzanne C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Smeltzer
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D010298:Parity; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012237:Rhode Island; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult