Sociodemographic risk factors of perinatal depression: a cohort study in the public health care system.

OBJECTIVE To assess the sociodemographic risk factors for the prevalence and incidence of relevant postpartum depressive symptoms. METHOD We studied a cohort of women in their perinatal period with the assistance of the public health system in the city of Pelotas-RS, Brazil. We assessed depressive symptoms with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in the prenatal and postnatal periods. RESULTS We interviewed 1,109 women. The prevalence of meaningful depressive symptoms during pregnancy was 20.5% and postpartum was 16.5%. Women with prenatal depression were at higher risk for postpartum depression. CONCLUSION The mother's poverty level, psychiatric history, partner absence and stressful life events should be considered important risk factors for relevant postpartum depressive symptoms.