Maternal postpartum depressive symptoms linked to nearly triple infant mortality risk
Infants born to mothers with depressive symptoms immediately after delivery had a substantially higher risk of dying before their first birthday, according to researchers involved in a Rutgers-led study of more than 414,000 births in New Jersey.
A Rutgers-led study of over 414,000 births in New Jersey reveals that infants born to mothers experiencing depressive symptoms after delivery face nearly triple the risk of dying before their first birthday compared to infants whose mothers showed no such symptoms. Researchers found an infant mortality rate of 7.2 deaths per 1,000 births among the former group, compared to only 2.0 deaths per 1,000 births among the latter group.
After accounting for various maternal and infant factors, the risk remained nearly three times higher. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, underscores the importance of maternal mental health in infant health outcomes, despite not establishing a direct causal link. Screening for depression postpartum is recommended, but its effectiveness hinges on proper diagnosis, referral, and treatment.
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