title: Postpartum depression and help-seeking behaviors in immigrant Hispanic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe perceptions of immigrant Hispanic women experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) and to identify barriers to seeking mental health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community health clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty immigrant Hispanic women scoring positive for symptoms of PPD receiving health care at a community health clinic who declined mental health services participated in audiotaped interviews held in their homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, interviews were conducted with study participants. Transcribed data were analyzed as appropriate for qualitative inquiry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some of the women did not recognize and/or denied their symptoms attributing their sadness to financial concerns, family relationships, and/or work stressors. Study participants articulately described their symptoms and identified personal barriers including beliefs about emotional health, the perceived stigma of mental illness, hesitancy to seek treatment for symptoms of PPD, and cultural beliefs about motherhood and the role of women. Social barriers included inadequate social support, immigration status, and limited English proficiency. Health care delivery barriers included financial and time constraints and lack of child care and transportation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited social networks and barriers to health care should be addressed to foster positive outcomes. Mental health services should be embedded with primary health care or obstetric care clinics to facilitate access. Personal and professional support can make a significant contribution to the reduction of symptoms of PPD.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Bringham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. lynn_callister@byu.edu
authors.forename: Lynn Clark
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Callister
authors.forename: Renea L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Beckstrand
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corbett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult