Prevalence and Factors Associated With Antepartum Depression Among Pregnant Women in Latent Labor: A Multi-Facility Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Southwestern Uganda

Catherine Atuhaire,1 Kabanda Taseera,1 Daniel Atwine,2 Samuel Maling,1 Vikram Patel3 1Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; 2Department of Clinical Research, Soar Research Foundation, Mbarara, Uganda; 3Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USACorrespondence: Catherine Atuhaire, Email [email protected]: Despite limited studies on antepartum depression (APD) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), it is suggested that the prevalence on the continent may be higher than the global average. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of APD and identifying its associated factors among pregnant women in latent labor in rural south western Uganda.Methods: The findings in this manuscript were part of a prospective cohort that aimed at investigating Social Support and Perinatal Depression among women in latent labor through six weeks postpartum. We conducted a multi-facility study enrolling women in latent labor to assess for APD and its associated factors from November 2023 to March 2024. The study was carried out in three health facilities in Mbarara District, rural southwestern Uganda. The prevalence of APD based on the Mini International Psychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I 7.0.2) using the depression module. Factors associated with APD were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Variables with a p-value < 0.2 in bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable model, with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Data were analyzed using STATA software version 14.0.Results: Of the 448 enrolled participants, 37 had APD giving a prevalence of 8.2% (95% CI: 6.0– 11.2%). Factors that were significantly associated with APD were Maternal age 30– 49 years, bad health status before pregnancy, not happy about being pregnant, having had complications during pregnancy and having a history of stressful life events during pregnancy.Conclusion: This study reveals a very significant yet comparatively lower prevalence of antepartum depression among pregnant women in latent labor in rural southwestern Uganda. These insights highlight the persistent need for comprehensive mental health strategies especially the non-pharmacological approaches within antenatal care to enhance maternal and child health outcomes.Keywords: antepartum depression, pregnant women, latent labor