Cited by 278Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumMental Health Treatment and AccessMaternal and Neonatal Healthcare

Preferences and perceived barriers to treatment for depression during the perinatal period

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O'Mahen, Heather A., Flynn, Heather A.·2008·Journal of Women s Health

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Little is understood about why few women during the perinatal period will use depression treatment. In particular, beliefs and barriers related to depression treatment use have not been studied. In this study, African American and white pregnant women (n = 108) who screened > or =10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were asked about recent formal and informal treatment use in prenatal care settings. Confidence in the helpfulness of treatment, providers, and settings and perceived barriers to treatment were assessed and compared between African American and white women. RESULTS: Pregnant women overall reported low rates of formal treatment use but frequently sought help from informal sources, such as friends, family, and printed materials. All women expressed greatest confidence in psychosocial treatments and lowest confidence in antidepressants. African American women reported less confidence in advice from family and friends and in antidepressants than did white women. Women expressed greatest confidence in treatments delivered by mental health professionals and religious leaders. African American women sought help more frequently and had significantly more confidence in religious leaders as treatment deliverers than white women. Women had greatest confidence in treatments delivered in professional and home settings, with African American women expressing greater confidence in religious settings than white women. All women reported greatest concern with structural barriers, compared with attitudinal and knowledge barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding patterns of treatment use, beliefs, and barriers to depression treatment provides important information for tailoring and improving appropriate use of mental health treatment in women during the perinatal period.

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Crossref · 10.1089/jwh.2007.0631

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Gaynes BN, Gavin N, Meltzer-Brody S, et al. Perinatal de- pression: Prevalence, screening accuracy, and screening out- comes. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ) 2005;119:1-8.
  2. Vergouwen AC, Bakker A, Katon WJ, et al. Improving ad- herence to antidepressants: A systematic review of inter- ventions. J Clin Psychiatry 2003;64:1415-1420.

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Authors
O'Mahen, H. A., & Flynn, H. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Exeter, Exeter, U.K.
  • University of Michigan (US)
Venue
Journal of Women s Health
Published
2008-10
Volume
17
Issue
8
Pages
1301-1309
ISSN
  • 1059-7115 (ISSN-L)
  • 1540-9996
  • 1931-843X
OpenAlex
W1983642519
Cited by
277
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 8
FWCI
7.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Women s Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
Keywords
perinatal depression, barriers to treatment, help-seeking, African American women, racial disparities, prenatal care, antidepressants, religious leaders, psychosocial interventions, treatment preferences, structural barriers, mental health service utilization
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Antidepressive Agents, Black or African American, Depressive Disorder, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Social Support, Midwestern United States, Perinatal Care, White People

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