Postpartum depression has a prevalence of 15% and has consequences for mother and baby (delayed physical, social and cognitive development). It's essential to prevent the illness with an early identification of Risk Factors (RF).

Five hundred and seventy-two women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy were evaluated and selected those with ≥ 1 RF (n = 290). We re-evaluated in the postpartum with Edinburgh Depression Scale and selected those with subsyndromal depressive symptoms (≥ 7.5) (n = 57). Clinical, demographic and functional data were collected.

A total of 50.7% had RF. A percentage of 48.6 had family history of mental illness (MI), 34.1%had personal history of (MI) and 34.1% had some pregnancy associated illness. Twenty percent had needed some assisted reproductive technique, 14.1% had little family support and 15.2% had little couple support, 3.8% showed anxiety-depressive disorders during pregnancy, 19.7% had depressive symptoms after delivery. The mean age was 33.67. No significant differences between patients with and without RF (T-1858, P 0.064). Among women with RF, 59.6% were married, 35.1% single and 3.0% had other situation. 89.5% live with their own family, 8.8% with their family of origin, 1.8% alone. 50.8% had university studies.

Assessing RF during pregnancy can help these women, since we see that the 19.7% will have serious risk of developing postpartum depression. The RF to take more into account are not those related to social-academic development, neither the presence of anxiety-depressive symptoms during pregnancy, but the family or personal history of (MI) and the presence of a pregnancy associated illness. Early detection and treatment may prevent the development of this disease improving the quality of life of mother and babies’ development.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.