Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms Amongst Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics at Quaternary Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Antenatal depression significantly contributes to maternal and neonatal morbidity worldwide; however, the rate of screening, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), remains very low. This cross-sectional survey study was aimed at determining the prevalence of depressive symptoms among women aged 18 to 34 years attending antenatal clinics at a quaternary hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, utilizing a Biographical Questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The study is based on a total of 151 questionnaires. The mean age of the study population was 27.6 years (range: 18–34). Majority of participants identified themselves as Black (138, 91.4%), had previously been pregnant (111, 73.5%), were in the third trimester of pregnancy (89, 58.9%), were unemployed or seeking employment (108, 71.5%), and had no pre-existing medical (107, 70.9%) or mental illnesses (143, 94.7%). The prevalence of antenatal depressive symptoms among the study population was 43.7% (66/151), and 18 (27.3%) of the women who screened positive had suicidal ideation. The prevalence of antenatal depressive symptoms in this study exceeds that reported in other regions, underscoring the urgent need for universal screening throughout pregnancy and provision of perinatal mental healthcare services for pregnant and postpartum women.