In a recent study published in The Journal of Advanced Nursing that included pregnant Black women from multiple US states, feeling upset by experiences of racism in the 12 months prior to delivery was associated with significantly higher odds of depression during pregnancy.
Perinatal depression is defined as major or minor depressive episodes that occur during pregnancy or in the first 12 months after birth. Mothers with perinatal depression often report symptoms including depressed mood; loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities; changes in weight, appetite and sleep; poor concentration; feelings of hopelessness; and suicidal ideations. Non-Hispanic Black women are twice as likely to experience symptoms of depression and suicidal ideations during the perinatal period than White women.
For this study, 7328 women answered survey questions. The findings showed that 11.4% of respondents reported feeling upset due to experiences of racism, and 11.4% reported experiencing depression during pregnancy. After adjusting for confounding factors, respondents who reported feeling upset due to the experience of racism had over two-fold higher odds of experiencing depression during pregnancy compared with respondents who did not report feeling upset due to the experience of racism.
“Our findings reinforce the importance of respectful maternity care, given the mental health impacts of experiences of racism during the perinatal period,” the authors wrote. “Racism is a powerful structural determinant of health with roots in a historical system of oppression that persists today in health care practices and policies. Perinatal health care providers, in collaboration with public health and other health disciplines, are ideally positioned to address inequities in maternal and child health that are rooted in racism.”
Source: Wiley
