We appreciate you taking the time to help America’s Health Rankings better understand our audiences. Your feedback will allow us to optimize our website and provide you with additional resources in the future. Thank you.
Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
Iowa Value:
Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing depressive symptoms
Iowa Rank:
Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing depressive symptoms
7.2% - 10.5%
10.6% - 11.4%
11.5% - 12.5%
12.6% - 13.9%
14.0% - 17.1%
No Data
US Value: 11.9 %
Top State(s): Louisiana: 7.2 %
Bottom State(s): Mississippi: 17.1 %
Definition: Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported experiencing depressive symptoms
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. DHHS, CDC, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) via Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Federally Available Data (FAD) Resource Document, 2023
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. DHHS, CDC, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) via Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Federally Available Data (FAD) Resource Document, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Postpartum depression occurs following pregnancy and delivery. It is a common medical complication and is associated with adverse outcomes for both the mother and child. Approximately 1 in 7 mothers experience postpartum depression.
Postpartum depressive symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness, pessimism or anger; frequent crying; difficulty sleeping; disconnection from the baby and worry about hurting the baby. A history of depression, anxiety or mood disorders is the most common risk factor for postpartum depression. Other risk factors include stressful or traumatic life events during pregnancy, traumatic birth experiences and negative early breastfeeding experiences.
Maternal depression symptoms can affect early infant development and lead to long-term problems for the child, such as impaired cognitive and language development, behavioral issues and poor sleep quality. Mothers with untreated postpartum depression are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as smoking or substance use, experience difficulties in their relationships, discontinue exclusive breastfeeding and use less-healthy infant feeding practices.
The prevalence of postpartum depression is higher among:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that providers screen for postpartum depression and anxiety as part of a comprehensive postpartum visit. Screening for postpartum depression is cost-effective. Attending regular postpartum visits with one’s provider can help to identify and treat health concerns such as postpartum depression quickly. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends providers refer pregnant and postpartum patients they find to be at increased risk of depression to counseling resources. Studies have found that postpartum depression may be prevented through supportive and psychological care following childbirth, including home visits, peer support and interpersonal therapy. Examples of evidence-based support programs include Mothers and Babies and the ROSE (Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for mothers of newborns) program.
Treatment for postpartum depression can also include antidepressants. In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first pharmaceutical treatment specifically for postpartum depression, an intravenous injection; and in 2023, the first oral medication was approved.
Healthy People 2030 has an objective to increase the proportion of women who are screened for postpartum depression at their postpartum checkups.
Agrawal, Iris, Ashok M Mehendale, and Ritika Malhotra. “Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression.” Cureus, October 31, 2022. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30898.
Bauman, Brenda L., Jean Y. Ko, Shanna Cox, Denise V. D’Angelo, MPH, Lee Warner, Suzanne Folger, Heather D. Tevendale, Kelsey C. Coy, Leslie Harrison, and Wanda D. Barfield. “Vital Signs: Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Provider Discussions About Perinatal Depression — United States, 2018.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 69, no. 19 (May 15, 2020): 575–81. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6919a2.
Cornett, Elyse M., Lauren Rando, Austin M. Labbé, Wil Perkins, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye, Omar Viswanath, and Ivan Urits. “Brexanolone to Treat Postpartum Depression in Adult Women.” Psychopharmacology Bulletin 51, no. 2 (March 16, 2021): 115–30. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8146562/.
Ko, Jean Y., Karilynn M. Rockhill, Van T. Tong, Brian Morrow, and Sherry L. Farr. “Trends in Postpartum Depressive Symptoms — 27 States, 2004, 2008, and 2012.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 66, no. 6 (2017). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6606a1.
Siu, Albert L., and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, David C. Grossman, Linda Ciofu Baumann, Karina W. Davidson, Mark Ebell, et al. “Screening for Depression in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.” JAMA 315, no. 4 (January 26, 2016): 380. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.18392.
Slomian, Justine, Germain Honvo, Patrick Emonts, Jean-Yves Reginster, and Olivier Bruyère. “Consequences of Maternal Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review of Maternal and Infant Outcomes.” Women’s Health 15 (January 1, 2019): 1745506519844044. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745506519844044.
Stewart, Donna E., and Simone Vigod. “Postpartum Depression.” Edited by Caren G. Solomon. New England Journal of Medicine 375, no. 22 (December 2016): 2177–86. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1607649.
Stuebe, Alison, Tamika Auguste, and Martha Gulati. “ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care.” Obstetrics & Gynecology 131, no. 5 (May 2018): e140–50. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002633.
Tahirkheli, Noor, Amanda Cherry, Alayna Tackett, Mary Anne McCaffree, and Stephen Gillaspy. “Postpartum Depression on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Current Perspectives.” International Journal of Women’s Health, November 2014, 975. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S54666.
Watkins, Stephanie, Samantha Meltzer-Brody, Denniz Zolnoun, and Alison Stuebe. “Early Breastfeeding Experiences and Postpartum Depression.” Obstetrics & Gynecology 118, no. 2 (August 2011): 214–21. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182260a2d.
Wilkinson, Andra, Seri Anderson, and Stephanie B. Wheeler. “Screening for and Treating Postpartum Depression and Psychosis: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.” Maternal and Child Health Journal 21, no. 4 (April 2017): 903–14.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2192-9.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
