Barriers to service use for postpartum depression symptoms among low-income ethnic minority mothers in the United States.
The risks of untreated postpartum depression (PPD) in the United States are higher among low-income ethnic minority mothers. However, research has not adequately investigated barriers to formal help seeking for PPD symptoms among this vulnerable population. We used convenience and purposive sampling strategies to recruit mothers experiencing past-year (the year prior to interview) PPD symptoms (n=14), community key informants (n=11), and service providers (n=12) to participate in focus groups and individual interviews. A grounded theory analysis of these nested perspectives revealed individual, community, and provider-level barriers operating at various stages of the help-seeking process: thinking about symptoms, seeking advice, and rejecting formal care. Although mothers overwhelmingly recommended "talking it out" for other mothers with PPD, an array of attitudinal and instrumental barriers led mothers to choose self-help practices in lieu of formal mental health care.
Abrams
Laura S
LS
Department of Social Welfare, School of Public Affairs, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Dornig
Katrina
K
Curran
Laura
L
D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008913:Minority Groups; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index