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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, 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
    Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Avenue des Pins, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Belinda Lequertier & Mia A. McLean & Sue Kildea & Suzanne King & Hazel Keedle & Yu Gao & Jacqueline A. Boyle & Kingsley Agho & Hannah G. Dahlen, 2022. "Perinatal Depression in Australian Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Birth in the Time of COVID-19 (BITTOC) Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5062-:d:798866
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Clare Wenham & Julia Smith & Sara E. Davies & Huiyun Feng & Karen A. Grépin & Sophie Harman & Asha Herten-Crabb & Rosemary Morgan, 2020. "Women are most affected by pandemics — lessons from past outbreaks," Nature, Nature, vol. 583(7815), pages 194-198, July.
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