Country of Birth, Race, Ethnicity, and Prenatal Depression

Do the risks of prenatal depression and moderate to severe depression symptoms differ among US-born and non–US-born pregnant individuals across racial and ethnic subgroups?In this cross-sectional study of 252 171 pregnant individuals, non–US-born individuals had a lower risk of prenatal depression diagnosis but a higher risk of moderate to severe depression symptoms, with variations by race and ethnicity.These findings suggest future research should consider nativity as an important factor associated with disparities in prenatal depression; mechanisms that prioritize sociocultural factors should be explored to contextualize the intersectional association between nativity, race, ethnicity, and prenatal mental health.

Corresponding Author: Kendria Kelly-Taylor, PhD, MPH, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 4480 Hacienda Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588 (kendria.d.kelly-taylor@kp.org).

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