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The impact of depression on women’s use of contraception and degree of pregnancy planning in low-income settings has been poorly researched. Our study aims to explore if symptoms of depression at preconception are associated with unplanned pregnancy and nonuse of contraception at the point of conception and in the postpartum period.

Population-based cohort of 4244 pregnant women in rural Malawi were recruited in 2013 and were followed up at 28 days, 6 months and 12 months postpartum. Women were asked about symptoms of depression in the year before pregnancy and assessed for depression symptoms at antenatal interview using the SelfReporting Questionnaire20, degree of pregnancy planning using the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy and use of contraception at conception and the three time points postpartum.

Of the 3986 women who completed the …