Objective: To compare antenatal depression (AD) symptoms between Syrian immigrant and Turkish pregnant women and to identify sociodemographic and obstetric factors associated with AD. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 15 and December 30, 2019, at Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, a tertiary public hospital in Türkiye. A total of 603 pregnant women (402 Turkish and 201 Syrian) were assessed during routine antenatal follow-ups. Data were collected through face-toface interviews using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), with the assistance of hospital interpreters. Results: Antenatal depressive symptoms were significantly more prevalent among Syrian immigrant women compared with Turkish women based on both screening tools (BDI ≥17: 30.8% vs. 15.4%, χ²=18.7, p<0.001; EPDS ≥13: 33.8% vs. 25.6%, χ²=4.4, p=0.035). Mean depression scores were also higher among Syrian women (BDI: 12.62±7.09 vs. 9.67±7.29, p<0.001; EPDS: 9.58±5.53 vs. 8.53±5.93, p=0.014). Ower educational attainment low socioeconomic status unplanned pregnancy, inadequate social support, impaired interpersonal relationships, and psychiatric history were significantly associated with elevated depressive symptom scores in both groups (p<0.05). Obstetric variables such as gravidity and trimester were not independently associated with AD. Conclusion: Approximately 1 in 3 Syrian immigrant women and 1 in 5 Turkish women were screened positive for AD. Immigrant status, together with socioeconomic and psychosocial vulnerability, represents a major risk factor for AD. Routine screening, early identification of psychosocial risk factors, and multidisciplinary care are essential to reduce adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Keles et al. (2026) studied this question.