Associations between antenatal education program and mental health outcomes in Taiwan: A population-based cohort study. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Yu-ling; Tseng, Ching-Hsuan; Cheong, Mei-Leng; Lien, Yin-Ju; Wang, Shi-Heng; Chang, Chia-Ming; Liao, Shih-Cheng; Wu, Chi-Shin
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 322(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: Claims data -- Pregnant women -- Antenatal depression -- Postpartum depression -- Depression diagnosis -- Psychiatrist visits; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Universal antenatal education with depression screening in taiwan was launched in 2014. More evidence is needed to know the effect on perinatal depression. More than 80% of pregnant women receive antenatal education in taiwan. Attending antenatal education increased the likelihood of a psychiatrist visit. The antenatal education attenders had a lower rate of perinatal depression. Abstract: Universal antenatal education has been offered to expectant mothers in Taiwan since 2014. Depression screening is included in the offered education sessions. This study aimed to examine the association of antennal education and depression screening with mental health outcomes, including perinatal depression diagnosis and psychiatrist visits. Data was obtained from the antenatal education records and Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims database. A total of 789, 763 eligible pregnant women were included in the current study. The psychiatric-related outcomes were measured between antenatal education and the six-month after delivery. It was found that the antenatal education was widely used in Taiwan, and the attendance rate has increased to 82.6% since its launch. The attenders were more likely to be from disadvantaged backgrounds, and 5.3% of them were screened positive for depressive symptoms. They were also more likely to visit a psychiatrist but less likely to be diagnosed with depression than the non-attenders. Factors including young age, high healthcare utilization, and comorbid psychiatric disorder history were consistently associated with depression symptoms, perinatal depression diagnoses and psychiatrist visits. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for the nonattendance at antenatal education programmes and the barriers to utilizing mental health services.