Background: Maternal depression has a significant impact on the health and well-being of mothers and families. While the prevalence of maternal depression during pregnancy and its association with adverse birth outcomes have been studied in various populations, New York State (NYS)-specific estimates are unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of self-reported maternal depression during pregnancy in NYS (excluding New York City (NYC)) and test for its association with adverse birth outcomes using NYS-specific population data.

Methods: NYS (excluding NYC) Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data were used to conduct weighted descriptive analyses to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with self-reported maternal depression during pregnancy and to test for association between self-reported maternal depression during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes (low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery). Analyses were restricted to mothers who delivered a liveborn, singleton infant between 2012 and 2017. All analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4.

Results: Approximately 22% of NYS mothers who delivered a liveborn, singleton infant between 2012–2017 reported experiencing maternal depression during pregnancy, and several maternal characteristics and psychosocial stressors were significantly associated with self-reported maternal depression during pregnancy. A dose-response relationship was observed between total stressors and the prevalence of self-reported maternal depression during pregnancy. A statistically significant association was observed between self-reported maternal depression during pregnancy and LBW after adjusting for selected covariates.

Conclusions: The results of this study support findings from the current literature linking maternal depression during pregnancy to adverse birth outcomes. Understanding the prevalence of and factors associated with maternal depression during pregnancy is of critical public health importance and is necessary for the appropriate design and implementation of effective public health programs and policies aimed at improving maternal and child health.