title: Depression help-seeking attitudes and behaviors among an Internet-based sample of Spanish-speaking perinatal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine attitudes and beliefs related to help-seeking for depression among an international sample of pregnant women, a majority of whom were Spanish-speakers residing in Latin America.
  
  
  METHODS
  More than 6 000 (n = 6 672) pregnant women met eligibility criteria and consented to participate between 15 January 2009-12 August 2011. Of these, 1 760 with a Latino/Hispanic background completed a baseline survey as part of a larger study. Group comparisons analyzed attitudes and behaviors related to seeking help for depression, while a logistic regression was conducted to identify demographic characteristics related to help-seeking support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the participants, three-fourths reported experiencing depression during or after their current or past pregnancies. The majority of participants did not seek help, and generally reported ambivalence about their depressive symptoms and uncertainty as to the helpfulness of others. However, 44.8% did seek help, mostly by speaking to family or partners and reported feeling fear, shame, and embarrassment about their symptoms. A current major depressive episode and an income less than or equal to US$ 10 000 were significant predictors of help-seeking behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from this study suggest that when feeling sad or depressed, perinatal Latinas tend to seek emotional support first from family and friends and may underutilize mental health services when needed. The Internet is an effective means for reaching perinatal women, especially those in areas of the world where there may be barriers to accessing psychological resources.
authors.affiliation: Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America, abarrera@paloaltou.edu.
authors.forename: Alinne Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.affiliation: Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, California, United States of America, abarrera@paloaltou.edu.
authors.forename: Alexandra D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D003469:Culture; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007843:Latin America; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D044469:Racial Groups; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012944:Social Support