Skip to main content

Neighborhood Disadvantage Tied to Higher Postpartum Depression Risk

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 29, 2023.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Nov. 28, 2023 -- Residing in more disadvantaged neighborhoods is associated with a greater risk for postpartum depression (PPD), according to a study published online Nov. 13 in JAMA Network Open.

Ticara L. Onyewuenyi, M.D., M.P.H., from Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland, and colleagues examined whether neighborhood disadvantage is associated with PPD. The analysis included 122,995 postpartum individuals (aged 15 years and older) with a live birth between Oct. 7, 2012, and May 31, 2017.

The researchers found that higher neighborhood disadvantage and race and ethnicity were associated with PPD in an adjusted analysis. Black individuals were more likely to have PPD, while Asian and Hispanic individuals were less likely to have PPD, compared with White individuals. There were significant associations between Neighborhood Deprivation Index and PPD that differed by race and ethnicity. The risk for PPD was the greatest overall in Black individuals and increased with neighborhood disadvantage in a dose-response manner (adjusted relative risks: quartile [Q] 2, 1.39; Q3, 1.50; Q4, 1.60). While the magnitude of the risk was lower, neighborhood disadvantage was associated with PPD among Asian and White individuals but not Hispanic individuals.

"Geographic targeting of mental health interventions may decrease postpartum mental health inequities," the authors write.

One author reported ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Epidural Analgesia Linked to Decline in Severe Maternal Morbidity

FRIDAY, May 24, 2024 -- Epidural analgesia during labor is associated with a reduction in severe maternal morbidity (SMM), according to a study published online May 22 in The...

Prenatal Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Affects Child's Metabolic Health

FRIDAY, May 24, 2024 -- Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is associated with adverse metabolic health in children, according to a study published online...

Mental Disorders May Be Transmitted Within Teen Peer Networks

FRIDAY, May 24, 2024 -- Mental disorders may be transmitted within an adolescent peer network, according to a study published online May 22 in JAMA Psychiatry. Jussi Alho, Ph.D...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.