Association between antenatal depression and low birthweight in a developing country

Abstract

Objective: There is a high prevalence of depression in south Asian women. We aimed to examine the association between antenatal depression and low birthweight (LBW) in infants in a rural community in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Method: A total of 143 physically healthy mothers with ICD‐10 depression in the third trimester of pregnancy and 147 non‐depressed mothers of similar gestation were followed from birth. Infant weight was measured and information collected on socioeconomic status, maternal body‐mass index and sociodemographic factors. Results: Infants of depressed mothers had lower birthweight (mean 2910 g) than infants of non‐depressed mothers (mean 3022 g). The relative risk for LBW (≤2500 g) in infants of depressed mothers was 1.9 (95% CI 1.3–2.9). The association remained significant after adjustment for confounders by multivariate analyses. Conclusion: Low birthweight is a major public health problem in developing countries. Maternal depression during pregnancy predicts LBW. Interventions aimed at maternal depression may help improve infant outcomes.

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Cited by papers we hold 3

• Antenatal depression and its association with adverse birth outcomes in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis · 2020
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• Maternal mental health in primary care in five low- and middle-income countries: a situational analysis · 2016
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• Low birth weight in offspring of women with depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy: results from a population based study in Bangladesh · 2010
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