title: Utilization of psychiatric services by postpartum women in a predominantly minority, low-socioeconomic-status, urban population.
abstract: This study describes the utilization of health care services related to psychiatric diagnoses in an inner city community health organization with a largely Hispanic population of low socioeconomic status. We reviewed the frequency and timing of postpartum mental health diagnoses among 5,731 patients who delivered babies and were followed-up for postpartum care. 286 women (5 %) had at least one mental health diagnosis. The rates in white, black, and Hispanic women were 12, 8, and 5 % respectively (p < .05). White and black women were 2.5 (95 % CI 1.24, 5.07), and 1.62 (95 % CI 1.09, 2.40) times more likely to have a mental health diagnosis, respectively, compared to Hispanic women. The most common diagnoses were mood disorders (64 %) followed by anxiety disorders (29 %). 87 % of cases were diagnosed after 4 weeks postpartum. The postpartum mental health diagnosis rate seen here is lower than might be expected, particularly among Hispanic women. Possible explanations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: , Houston, TX, USA, rseplowitz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rhoda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seplowitz
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ostermeyer
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sangi-Haghpeykar
authors.forename: Elana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kunik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000208:ethnology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult