Mental health and access to services among US women of reproductive age.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to estimate prevalence of depression and serious psychological distress (SPD) and mental health service receipt among reproductive-age women.


METHODS
We used 2006-2007 nationally representative data to estimate the prevalence of depression and SPD among nonpregnant women aged 18 to 44 years. Using logistic regression, we individually examined predictors of depression and SPD and characteristics associated with clinical diagnosis and current treatment.


RESULTS
More than 14% of women had current depression and 2.7% had current SPD. Risk factors for major depression and SPD included older age, less education, being unmarried, inability to work/unemployed, and low income. Among depressed women, 18-24 year-olds, nonwhite women, those with children, the employed, and urban women had lower odds of clinical diagnosis. Among women with SPD, Hispanic, employed, and those without health insurance had lower odds of receiving treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Mental health conditions are prevalent among women of reproductive age and a substantial proportion goes untreated.
Farr
Sherry L
SL
Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Bitsko
Rebecca H
RH
Hayes
Donald K
DK
Dietz
Patricia M
PM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics; D012098:Reproduction; D012424:Rural Population; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult