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Effects of Pregnancy-Related Depression on Low Birth Weight Infants

Maternal depression during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the developing child. Numerous studies have focused on postpartum depression and the influences on infant outcomes; however, there are limited data on pregnancy-related depression. The problem addressed in this study was the inadequacy and insufficiency of depression screening during the pregnancy period and access to quality-related health services for women. The purpose of this quantitative retrospective study was to test social cognitive theory on low birth weight and prenatal care adherence to pregnancy-related depression in women residing in Colorado. This research measured an association between pregnancy-related depression and both low birth weight prevalence and prenatal care adherence. Secondary analysis of archived data included data from Colorado vital statistics and the 2016 Colorado Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Data were analyzed using Chi-square analysis and multiple logistic regression. The findings showed that pregnancy-related depression was statistically significant of very low birth weight. I reported a summary of findings on p. 68. Biopsychosocial variables were significant to pregnancy-related depression. Pregnancy-related depression was significant in prenatal and postpartum depression. The implications of these findings for social change include the potential to support improved depression screening strategies during pregnancy that may contribute to transformation within the community by promoting more efficient and accessible healthcare for women.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:waldenu.edu/oai:scholarworks.waldenu.edu:dissertations-8869
Date01 January 2019
CreatorsBauer-Schaub, Kimberly J
PublisherScholarWorks
Source SetsWalden University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceWalden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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