This study looked at how often pregnant people received screening for depression between 2019 and 2024. It included 99,526 pregnancies at or beyond 20 weeks gestation within a large U.S. healthcare system in the Midwest. The researchers grouped patients by their preferred language: English, Spanish, or another language.
In 2019, the chance of getting screened was similar for all language groups. However, by 2024, screening rates had increased substantially for everyone, but the growth was not equal. English speakers saw the largest increase, while those who preferred Spanish or another language saw smaller gains. This caused the differences between groups to become more pronounced over time.
The study found that unequal screening uptake can systematically under-identify prenatal depression among patients with non-English language preferences. This has important implications for equitable access to psychiatric care. Readers should understand that while screening is improving, language barriers may still prevent some patients from receiving the care they need.