Diagnosis of postpartum depression and associated factors in South Africa: a cohort study of 47,697 women.

AIMS: About one-third of South African women have clinically significant symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD). Several socio-demographic risk factors for PPD exist, but data on medical and obstetric risk factors remain scarce for low- and middle-income countries and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to estimate the proportion of women with PPD and investigate socio-demographic, medical and obstetric risk factors for PPD among women receiving private medical care in South Africa (SA).

METHODS

In this longitudinal cohort study, we analysed reimbursement claims from beneficiaries of an SA medical insurance scheme who delivered a child between 2011 and 2020. PPD was defined as a new International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision diagnosis of depression within 365 days postpartum. We estimated the frequency of women with a diagnosis of PPD. We explored several medical and obstetric risk factors for PPD, including pre-existing conditions, such as HIV and polycystic ovary syndrome, and conditions diagnosed during pregnancy and labour, such as gestational diabetes, pre-term delivery and postpartum haemorrhage. Using a multivariable modified Poisson model, we estimated adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with PPD.

RESULTS

Of the 47,697 participants, 2,380 (5.0%) were diagnosed with PPD. The cumulative incidence of PPD increased from 0.8% (95% CI 0.7-0.9) at 6 weeks to 5.5% (5.3-5.7) at 12 months postpartum. PPD risk was higher in individuals with history of depression (aRR 3.47, 95% CI [3.14-3.85]), preterm delivery (1.47 [1.30-1.66]), PCOS (1.37 [1.09-1.72]), hyperemesis gravidarum (1.32 [1.11-1.57]), gestational hypertension (1.30 [1.03-1.66]) and postpartum haemorrhage (1.29 [0.91-1.85]). Endometriosis, HIV, gestational diabetes, foetal stress, perineal laceration, elective or emergency C-section and preeclampsia were not associated with a higher risk of PPD.

CONCLUSIONS

The PPD diagnosis rate was lower than anticipated, based on the PPD prevalence of previous studies, indicating a potential diagnostic gap in SA's private sector. Identified risk factors could inform targeted PPD screening strategies.