Mothers’ Perspectives on Follow-up for Postpartum Depression Screening in Primary Care
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To qualitatively assess mothers' perspectives on barriers to and facilitators of follow-up of at-risk postpartum depression (PPD) screening test results. METHODS: We conducted semistructured qualitative telephone interviews with 17 women who scored in the moderate or high-risk range on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Interviews explored personal experience with depressive symptoms, barriers and facilitators to receiving mental health care postpartum, and suggestions for primary care follow-up of at-risk screens. The team created a coding structure that was updated during review of transcripts. Findings were triangulated and external validity assessed via discussions with a mother who experienced PPD, a perinatal social worker, and a perinatal psychologist. RESULTS: Personal health/attitude, family/friends, community, and health care system factors influenced mothers' follow-up of at-risk PPD screening test results. Health and personal attitude factors included anxiety, physical and emotional exhaustion, self-care and recognition of symptoms, and living up to personal and family expectations. Family/friend factors included material and emotional support and competing priorities. Community factors included child care affordability and availability, access to transportation, geographic access to resources, social networks, and community mental health stigma. Health care factors included pediatrician taking the mother's symptoms seriously, adequate time with the pediatrician, mother and pediatrician focus on the child's health, and access to mental health referrals. CONCLUSION: Addressing barriers to follow-up after PPD screening may enable better service access for at-risk families.
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Mothers have reported feeling too emotionally and physically exhausted to take care of their own health.
“As such, mothers have reported feeling too emotionally and physically exhausted to take care of their own health [14].”
From Motherhood and Me (Mom-Me): The Development of an Acceptance-Based Group for Women with Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Symptoms (2022) · cites this paper as [14]
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- Authors
- Canty, H. R., Sauter, A., Zuckerman, K., Cobian, M., & Grigsby, T.
- Affiliations
- Oregon Health & Science University (US)
- Hillsboro Pediatrics, Hillsboro, OR;
- Portland State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Canty, Hannah R.
- ORCID
- Zuckerman, Katharine
- Venue
- Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
- Published
- 2019-02
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 139-143
- ISSN
- 0196-206X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2901019923
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 1.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PDXScholar (Portland State University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Keywords
- postpartum depression, postpartum depression screening, follow-up care, barriers to care, facilitators of care, mothers' perspectives, primary care, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, access to mental health care, family support, childcare access, mental health referral
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aftercare, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Infant, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Mothers, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Primary Health Care, Depression, Postpartum, Qualitative Research, Young Adult
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