Perinatal Depression in Australian Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Birth in the Time of COVID-19 (BITTOC) Study

Belinda Lequertier, Mia A. McLean, Sue Kildea, Suzanne King, Hazel Keedle, Yu Gao, Jacqueline A. Boyle, Kingsley Agho and Hannah G. Dahlen
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Belinda Lequertier: Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Level 11, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Mia A. McLean: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 0B3, Canada
Sue Kildea: Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Level 11, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Suzanne King: Douglas Institute Research Centre, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Verdun, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
Hazel Keedle: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia
Yu Gao: Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Level 11, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Jacqueline A. Boyle: Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3128, Australia
Kingsley Agho: School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia
Hannah G. Dahlen: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted perinatal mental health globally. We determined the maternal factors and pandemic-related experiences associated with clinically significant perinatal (pregnant and post-partum) depressive symptoms in Australian women. Participants ( n = 2638; pregnant n = 1219, postnatal n = 1419) completed an online survey (August 2020 through February 2021) and self-reported on depression, social support, and COVID-19 related experiences. We found elevated depressive symptoms amongst 26.5% (pregnant) and 19% (postnatal) women. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed higher likelihood of elevated depression associated with residence in Victoria, lower education, past/current mental health problems, greater non-pandemic prenatal stress, age ≥ 35 years (pregnant women) and existing physical health issues or disability in self or others (postnatal women). Greater family stress/discord and lower social support (friends) was associated with higher odds of elevated perinatal depression, while lower social support (family) was significantly associated with elevated depressive symptoms in pregnant women. Greater depression was associated with social distancing, pandemic-related news exposure and changes to prenatal care (pregnant women). Single postnatal women showed lower odds of elevated depression than partnered women. Our findings underscore the importance of universal screening for depression and targeted support during a pandemic for perinatal women displaying vulnerability factors.

Keywords: perinatal depression; social support; COVID-19 pandemic; prenatal stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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