Main findings
This study identified little evidence that early pregnancy BMI is a risk
factor for antenatal depression or anxiety within South Asian and White
British women in this population. There was an association between
ethnicity and antenatal depression and anxiety with a significantly
higher proportion of South Asian women with depression compared with
White British women, but lower proportion with anxiety, independent of
early pregnancy BMI.
Analysis of other socio-demographic variables identified smoking during
pregnancy was a more important risk factor for both antenatal depression
and anxiety in White British and South Asian women than early pregnancy
BMI. Lack of education was a risk factor for antenatal depression in
White British women but reduced the odds of antenatal anxiety in South
Asian women. Older age was a risk factor for antenatal anxiety in South
Asian women but reduced the odds of antenatal depression in White
British women. However, effect sizes for maternal age were very small
compared to smoking and education.