The association between perceived COVID-19-related discrimination and probable depression among pregnant women in the post-pandemic era: a cross-sectional study

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has substantially influenced the physical and psychological wellbeing of populations who survived the pandemic. Discrimination against infected individuals has been a public health concern and has been identified as a risk factor for mental health issues. However, limited empirical evidence is available to support its role in psychological disorders during the prenatal period. The current study aims to investigate the association between COVID-19-related discrimination and the likelihood of experiencing probable depression among women in their early pregnancy. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 May 2023 to 31 August 2023 using an anonymous online questionnaire distributed to women in their first trimester of pregnancy in the antenatal care clinic of three hospitals. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to screen antenatal depression. The logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between COVID-19-related discrimination and antenatal depression. A total of 3,608 pregnant women were enrolled in this study, of whom 657 screened positive for antenatal depression (AND), resulting in a prevalence of 18.2%. More than one-third of the participants experienced COVID-19-related discrimination. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated a greater prevalence of probable depression among pregnant women who experienced COVID-19-related discrimination compared with those who did not. This study provided novel evidence for the association between COVID-19-related discrimination and probable depression in pregnant women, highlighting an associated factor for supportive interventions that may be relevant in the post-pandemic era.