Collective impact of chronic medical conditions and poverty on perinatal mental illness: population-based cohort study

What is it about?

What is already known on this subject
Previous studies have reported that CMC and poverty independently increase the risk of perinatal mental illness. However, no studies have examined the collective impact of CMC and poverty on perinatal mental illness risk.
What this study adds
This is the first study to examine the collective impact of CMC and poverty on perinatal mental health. While both CMC and poverty independently increased perinatal mental illness risk, the collective impact of these factors was not greater than the sum of their individual effects, contrary to our hypothesis of a synergistic effect. However, given that one in 20 women experience co-occurring CMC and poverty, our findings suggest that perinatal mental health programs that promote preventive strategies in high-risk women, including those with CMC and poverty, are warranted.

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