Prevalence and Incidence of Postpartum Depression among Chinese Women: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract PurposePostpartum Depression (PPD) is significant public health and clinical concern regarding to women of reproductive age. This study aims to examine the prevalence, incidence and persistence of at 1 and 6 months after delivery among Chinese women.MethodThis is a prospective cohort study in Wuhan, China. Participants were mothers recruited Wuhan Women and Children Medical Care Center, who gave singleton and live birth from January 2016 to September 2018. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess possible (scores of EPDS >9) and high-level (scores of EPDS >12) of depression at 1 and 6 months after delivery. Prevalence and incidence with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. ResultsWe included 1884 mothers. The prevalence of possible and high-level depression at 1 month were 37.7% and 15.2%, respectively; at 6 months were 32.6% and 13.1%, respectively. Both prevalence rates of possible and high depression were higher at 1 month than that at 6 month after delivery. The incidence rates of possible and high-level depression at 6 months were 11.8% and 7.2%, respectively. Of those with possible symptoms at 1month, 20.8% continued to have symptoms at 6 months. Higher EPDS scores at 1 month, employment during pregnancy and multiparas were risk factors for elevated EPDS scores at 6 months(P<0.05)..ConclusionData of incidences suggests that later-onset PPD after delivery. These results suggest that continuous postpartum monitoring maternal depression is helpful to identify high-risk groups as early as possible and reduce the incidence of PPD.