Postpartum depression more common in women victims of violence (HealthDay)

Thursday, May 19, HealthDay News) — Hispanic women who suffer violence during or shortly before becoming pregnant have an increased risk of five times from depression postpartum, U.S. researchers say.

The results suggest that intimate partner violence is a stronger indicator than prenatal depression postpartum depression, which is generally regarded as the most important risk factor.

The study of 210 Hispanic women aged 18 and older in Los Angeles found that women who have experienced violence during pregnancy or within 12 months of pregnancy are 5.4 times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression than those who had not undergone recent abuses.

The researchers also found that women who experienced prenatal depression were 3.5 times more likely to have postpartum depression than those with no experience antenatal depression.

These results indicate that pregnant women should be screened for prenatal depression and intimate partner violence, said researchers at the University of California, the Los Angeles Center for Culture, trauma and mental health disparities.

The study appears in the current issue of the mental health of the Archives of women.