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Prenatal Care Visits and Associated Costs for Treatment-Seeking Women With Depressive Disorders

Dr. H.-C. Lin and Dr. Hsiao are affiliated Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Dr. Y.-J. Lin is with the China University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan. Send correspondence to Dr. Li, 89 Neichiang St., Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan 108 (e-mail: cyli{at}ntcn.edu.tw).

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether a history of depressive disorders is associated with use and costs of prenatal care among pregnant women in Taiwan. METHODS: Participants were mothers with singleton births between 2004 and 2006 (N=23,290), some of whom (N=614) had received care for depression in the year before conception but not during pregnancy. RESULTS: The mean number of prenatal care visits was 8.50 and associated costs were $NT 51,187 for pregnant women with a history of depressive disorders and 9.17 visits and $NT 27,998, respectively, for those without such a history. After adjustment for age, monthly income, medical conditions, and obstetric complications, mothers with a history of depression were significantly less likely to receive prenatal care (relative risk=.94, 95% confidence interval=.92–.97, p<.001). However, women with a history of depression had $NT 22,494 higher prenatal care costs than mothers without a history of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women with a history of depressive disorders had fewer prenatal care visits but higher prenatal care costs. Physicians should consider screening to identify pregnant women with a history of depressive disorders.

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