Faculty Collaboration Database

Examining the Association Between Racial Bias Exposure and Postpartum Depression Among Women in Wisconsin. WMJ 2021 Mar;120(S1):S24-S30

Date

04/06/2021

Pubmed ID

33819399

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85103996228 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   6 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between racial bias and postpartum depression among women in Wisconsin.

METHODS: Analyzed the Wisconsin Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System with a weighted sample of 125,581 women/mothers who delivered a live birth in 2016-2017. The outcome was self-reported postpartum depression. The independent variable was racial bias exposure. Survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were performed adjusting for confounders in 6 models-socioeconomic position, psychosocial factors, health risk behaviors, health care access, stress/obesity, and disease condition. All analyses were completed using STATA accounting for complex survey design and sample weights.

RESULTS: In this sample, 6.6% of women/mothers experienced racial bias and 11.5% had postpartum depression. In unadjusted analysis, the odds of postpartum depression were higher for women who experienced racial bias than those who did not (OR 2.15; 95% CI, 1.35-3.41). Non-Hispanic Black women had higher odds for racial bias exposure than other racial/ethnic groups (OR 6.01; 95% CI, 1.69-21.41). However, the relationship between racial bias and postpartum depression was not significant after adjusting for socioeconomic position (OR 1.17; 95% CI, 0.69-1.97), psychosocial factors (OR 1.07; 95% CI, 0.63-1.81), health risk behaviors (OR 0.90; 95% CI, 0.55-1.49], health care access (OR 1.01; 95% CI, 0.60-1.70), stress/obesity (OR 0.73; 95% CI, 0.41-1.30), and disease/morbidity (OR 0.85; 95% CI, 0.46-1.57).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Racial bias was associated with significantly increased risk of postpartum depression. Black women had higher odds for racial bias exposure than other groups. The relationship between racial bias and postpartum depression was not significant after adjusting for confounders, suggesting that social determinants potentially influenced this relationship. These findings should inform screening and health education interventions to minimize racism and poor maternal health outcomes.

Author List

Shour AR, Muehlbauer A, Anguzu R, Weeks F, Meurer J

Authors

Ronald Anguzu MD, PhD Assistant Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
John R. Meurer MD, MBA Institute Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Depression, Postpartum
Female
Humans
Pregnancy
Racism
Wisconsin