Does the 2-week postpartum health checkup for term deliveries prevent postpartum depression? Analysis using a 10-year database from a university hospital in Japan.

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern with adverse outcomes for both mothers and offspring. This study examined the association between a two-week postpartum health checkup (HC) and PPD prevalence at one month.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study from Japan included 6681 women who delivered full-term singleton babies between January 1, 2012, and August 31, 2021. The HC group received a two-week HC from January 2019, whereas those who delivered before this period were in the non-HC (control) group. PPD was assessed using the Japanese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at discharge and one month postpartum. Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with an EPDS score ≥ 9 at one month postpartum.

RESULTS

The average maternal age of participants was 32.5 ± 5.6 years; 51.8 % (n = 3463) were primiparous, and 27.8 % (n = 1856) were in the HC group. The HC group demonstrated a significantly lower proportion of women with EPDS score ≥ 9 at one month postpartum than the non-HC group (8.9 % vs. 13.8 %, p < 0.001). Factors associated with an EPDS score ≥ 9 at one month postpartum included attending the two-week postpartum HC (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.502, p < 0.001), EPDS score at discharge (aOR = 5.574, p < 0.001), psychiatric disorder history (aOR = 2.732, p < 0.001), cesarean section (aOR = 0.762, p = 0.006), and exclusive formula feeding (aOR = 1.368, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Two-week postpartum HC was associated with a lower prevalence of PPD risk at one month postpartum. Early postpartum HC may be valuable for identifying women at risk of PPD and supporting timely interventions.