Hong Kong (dpa) - More than one in seven women in Hong Kong suffer from serious depression during pregnancy, a survey published Saturday found.

The three-year study by the territory's Chinese University found 15 per cent of mothers-to-be suffered serious antenatal depression and 10 per cent post-natal depression.

Researchers, who questioned 1,000 pregnant women, said the stress of accidental pregnancies and of observing traditional Chinese taboos concerning pregnancy contributed to the high rate of depression.

They warned babies born to women who experience depression during pregnancy are 2.2 times more likely to need medical care after birth. Depressed women are also twice as likely to give birth by Caesarean section.

Women in workaholic Hong Kong often return to their careers soon after giving birth, leaving babies in the care of amahs or relatives. Families are kept small because of limited living space and, adding to the pressure on a woman to produce a baby boy early on.

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