Effect of Depression, Stress and Anxiety during Pregnancy on Low Birth Weight: A Prospective Cohort Study in Suburban Communities

Pre-natal mental health problems are major causes of disease burden, especially in lower socio-economic groups of population. The present study used data of a prospective cohort study to estimate the risk of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and stress, on birth weight.

This study used data of 398 pregnant women who were participants of the Bandar Abbas Pregnancy Cohort Study (BAPC) during 2017-2020. Data of depression, anxiety, and stress were collected using DASS-21items questionnaire in pregnancy. Low Birth Weight (LBW), as birthwieght below 2500 grams, was calculated according to infant`s vaccination log. Modified Poisson regression models with logarithm link function and significance level of 5% were applied to estimate the effect of depression, anxiety and stress on LBW.

Compared to the subjects without mental health problems, the risk of LBW increased by 8.03 times in the severe depression (95% CIs: 5.55-11.62), by 8.06 times in the moderate stress (95% CIs: 5.64-11.51), by 3.13 times in the severe anxiety (95% CIs: 1.18-8.31), and by 8.43 in the highly severe anxiety (95% CIs: 5.80-12.25).

Severe and moderate levels of depression, anxiety, and stress all had statistically significant effects on LBW. Pre-natal screening services can help mitigate the burden of mental health by timely detection and referral. Moreover, designing and implementing consultation programs for pregnant women and their fsmilies, expecially their spouses, to provide emotional support and to improve marital relationship are amongst the suggestions.