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The prevalence and determinants of antepartum mental health problems among women in the USA: a nationally representative population-based study

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Abstract

Mental health problems disproportionately affect women, particularly during childbearing years. We sought to estimate the prevalence of antepartum mental health problems and determine potential risk factors in a representative USA population. We examined data on 3,051 pregnant women from 11 panels of the 1996–2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Poor antepartum mental health was defined by self report of mental health conditions or symptoms or a mental health rating of “fair” or “poor.” Multivariate regression analyses modeled the odds of poor antepartum mental health; 7.8% of women reported poor antepartum mental health. A history of mental health problems increased the odds of poor antepartum mental health by a factor of 8.45 (95% CI, 6.01–11.88). Multivariate analyses were stratified by history of mental health problems. Significant factors among both groups included never being married and self-reported fair/poor health status. This study identifies key risk factors associated with antepartum mental health problems in a nationally representative sample of pregnant women. Women with low social support, in poor health, or with a history of poor mental health are at an increased risk of having antepartum mental health problems. Understanding these risk factors is critical to improve the long-term health of women and their children.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the generous funding that supported this research. TD was supported by a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (3 U01 PE000003-06). EWH was supported by NIH (T32 HD049302; PI: Sarto). MAW was supported by a grant from the Institute for Research on Poverty (PI: Witt and DeLeire). LEW was supported by a grant from the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin, Madison (PI: Witt) and a pre-doctoral NRSA Training Grant (T32 HS00083; PI: Smith). TM was supported by grants from the Center for Demography and Ecology (R24 HD047873) Center for Demography of Health and Aging (P30 AG17266), and a NIA Training Grant (T32 AG00129).

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  1. Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 610 North Walnut Street, Office 503, Madison, WI, 53726, USA

    Whitney P. Witt, Thomas DeLeire, Erika W. Hagen, Margarete A. Wichmann, Lauren E. Wisk, Hilary A. Spear, Erika R. Cheng & Torsheika Maddox

  2. UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, USA

    John Hampton

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  1. Whitney P. Witt
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  2. Thomas DeLeire
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  3. Erika W. Hagen
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Correspondence to Whitney P. Witt.

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Witt, W.P., DeLeire, T., Hagen, E.W. et al. The prevalence and determinants of antepartum mental health problems among women in the USA: a nationally representative population-based study. Arch Womens Ment Health 13, 425–437 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0176-0

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