INTRODUCTION:
Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in approximately 15% of women. CenteringPregnancy (CP) not only allows for greater social support compared to Traditional Care (TC), it also focuses one group session on PPD. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a decreased incidence of PPD in black women enrolled in CP versus TC.
METHODS:
A retrospective chart review was conducted comparing all black CP patients to a matched cohort of TC patients seen at UF Health between March 2015 and March 2017. A score of > 12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was categorized positive for PPD. Logistic regression estimated the relationship between positive PPD and CP vs TC participation, adjusting for patient characteristics.
RESULTS:
There was a lower incidence of PPD in black CP patients compared to TC patients (8.96% vs 16.67%), although not statistically significant (P=0.183). Overall, patients with a history of depression were 2.17 times more likely to have PPD (95% CI 0.53-8.89), and patients taking any psychiatric medications during pregnancy were 11.56 times more likely to have PPD (95% CI 1.31-101.96).
CONCLUSION:
The incidence of PPD in the CP group was lower than that in the TC group which mirrored the general population. This difference may be related to additional social support received within CP settings and additional time spent discussing signs and symptoms of PPD and ways to access resources. More research is needed to further assess the psychosocial benefits of CP in black women.
