Stigma and attitudes towards antenatal depression and antidepressant use during pregnancy in healthcare students

Depression in pregnancy or antenatal depression (AD) occurs in approximately one in five women, with potentially deleterious effects to the mother and fetus. People are encouraged to get treatment for depression; however, pregnant women can experience stigma when they reach out for help with depression. Research indicates that healthcare professionals hold stigma against patients who experience mental health conditions, including depression. The public, as well as healthcare professionals may have negative attitudes towards antidepressant use during pregnancy, despite evidence that many antidepressants are relatively safe for use in pregnancy. The objective of this project was to determine what knowledge and opinions healthcare students may hold towards antenatal depression and its treatment, and whether further knowledge and experience lessened the stigma. Medical, pharmacy, and nursing students (n = 309) were given a scenario regarding a woman with AD based on Corrigan’s Attribution Questionnaire and asked seven questions based on the scenario that assessed their level of stigma and questions related to treatment. Each student group demonstrated some stigma towards the woman and all groups lacked knowledge regarding treatment of AD. Overall, the nursing students were the most stigmatizing of the three groups. The study demonstrates that healthcare students hold stigma towards people with mental health problems, including pregnant depressed women. It points to a need to increase education about antenatal depression and its treatment.