What Role Does Hispanic/Latina Ethnicity Play in the Relationship Between Maternal Mental Health and Preterm Birth?

Objective: To investigate the association of prepregnancy and prenatal depression and/or anxiety on preterm birth (PTB), while also exploring Hispanic/Latina ethnicity as a potential effect modifier.

Methods: Study population included respondents of UT-PRAMS (2016-2019). Associations between prepregnancy and prenatal depression and/or anxiety and PTB were evaluated using Poisson regression models accounting for stratified survey sampling.

Results: Women with prepregnancy and prenatal depression and anxiety, compared to those without, had a 67 percent (95% CI: 19%, 134%) higher probability of experiencing PTB, after controlling for relevant sociodemographic, lifestyle, and reproductive history factors. Impact of depression on PTB was slightly higher than impact of anxiety. Hispanic/Latina ethnicity was found to protect against PTB for those with prepregnancy and prenatal depression alone (aPR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.24, 1.21) or both depression and anxiety (aPR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.40) compared to being non-Hispanic/Latina (aPR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.25, 2.55 for depression alone; aPR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.21 for depression and anxiety).

Conclusions: Overall, Utah women reporting prepregnancy and prenatal depression and anxiety were more likely to have a PTB. Being of Hispanic/Latina ethnicity was found to mitigate the risk of PTB among women with depression and anxiety.

Implications: Prepregnancy and prenatal mental health screenings and treatment are key to lessening the impacts of depression and anxiety on both mother and infant. Hispanic/Latina ethnicity may be protective against PTB among women experiencing mental distress. Whether this is through increased social support or through a different mechanism should be explored in future research.