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Effect of maternal depression and anxiety on use of health services for infants

M. Karen Campbell, PhD
Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Western Ontario in London. She is an Affiliated Scientist at the Lawson Research Institute and the Children’s Health Research Institute in London

Orlando daSilva, MD MSc
Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Western Ontario

Thomas Freeman, MD MClSc CCFP
Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Western Ontario

Bin Xie, PhD
Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Western Ontario

Correspondence: Dr Karen Campbell, University of Western Ontario, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 1151 Richmond St, North Kresge Bldg, Room K201, London, ON N6A 5C1; telephone 519 661-2111, extension 86267; fax 519 661-3766; e-mailkaren.campbell{at}schulich.uwo.ca

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between postpartum maternal depressive symptoms or maternal anxiety and health services utilization (HSU) for infants.

DESIGN Telephone survey.

SETTING London-Middlesex region of Ontario.

PARTICIPANTS Mothers of infants 2 to 12 months of age between 2004 and 2005 (N = 655). This sample was drawn from a larger longitudinal cohort of mothers recruited during pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Maternal depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Infant HSU outcomes included number of primary care provider (PCP) visits for infants < 6 months of age, number of PCP visits for infants 6 to 12 months of age, emergency department (ED) use, and walk-in clinic (WIC) use.

RESULTS Multivariable regression methods were used to compare HSU for infants. After adjustment for confounders, no significant associations were observed between postpartum maternal depressive symptoms and PCP visits, ED use, or WIC use. Similarly, no significant associations were observed for maternal anxiety and PCP visits, ED use, or WIC use.

CONCLUSION In contrast to some previous studies, this study found no association between postpartum maternal depressive symptoms or anxiety and HSU for infants.