Rutgers study links maternal depressive symptoms to higher infant mortality

A Rutgers-led study published in JAMA Network Open has identified a significant link between maternal depressive symptoms immediately following delivery and an increased risk of infant mortality. Analyzing more than 414,000 births in New Jersey from 2016 through 2020, researchers found an infant mortality rate of 7.2 deaths per 1,000 births among infants whose mothers reported depressive symptoms, compared to two deaths per 1,000 births for those whose mothers did not.

After adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic factors, infants of mothers with depressive symptoms faced nearly three times the risk of death before their first birthday. Lead author Rebecca Woofter noted that the association remained consistent across various groups, including differences in race, ethnicity, education, insurance status, and whether the babies were born prematurely or at full term.

While the researchers stated the findings do not prove maternal depression causes infant deaths, they emphasized the importance of understanding this relationship. The study utilized New Jersey’s requirement for hospitals to screen postpartum patients using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.