A new study has found that about 40 percent of women suffering from post-natal depression have been physically or emotionally abused by their partners, according to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Victoria, Australia.
The study followed 1,305 women through their first-time pregnancies and the first year after giving birth. About 210 of the women reported experiences of depression during the 12 months following delivery, and about 40 percent of them acknowledged “intimate partner violence” at the same time through emotional or physical abuse.
The findings, the researchers noted in a paper published Wednesday in "BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology," are cause for concern and should be passed on to health officials and workers so they can be more alert to signs of problems in new mothers.

“Depression after childbirth has received a lot of attention in recent decades. Known risk factors for developing postnatal depression include a history of depression, poor partner relationships, stressful life events/social health issues, low social support, and low income,” the research paper noted. “Our findings indicate that intimate partner violence is very common among women reporting postnatal depressive symptoms, and may be an important factor for health professionals to consider in managing postnatal distress.”

Dr. Hannah Woolhouse, coauthor of the paper, also added that it was important for health professionals to “regularly inquire about a woman’s mental health in the 12 months after birth, rather than at one specific time point.”