Zhihuan J Huang, MPH, PhD¹, Stella M. Yu, ScD, MPH², and Cynthia R. Ronzio, PhD¹. (1) Center for Health Services and Community Research, Children's National Medical Center/George Washington University Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave, NW, Washington, DC, DC 20010, 202 884-3613, Jhuang@cnmc.org, (2) HRSA/MCHB/ODIM, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, 18-41, Rockville, MD 20857

Background: The prevalence rate for depression in mothers of young children ranges between 8% and 15%. Studies have shown the devastating effects of postpartum depression on the mother’s quality of life, her overall functioning, and her infant’s current and future health and development. Little is known about depressive symptoms in Asian American mothers from different ethnicities.

Methods: Data were obtained from the first round interview of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey (ECLS-B), a national representative birth cohort study. When the sample children were 9 months old, mothers were asked about the presence of 11 depressive symptoms, whether they sought help, and their community involvement. Associations of these characteristics by respondents’ race/ethnicity (NH White, Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, other) were explored using SUDAAN.

Results: Moderate differences were found in the prevalence of the long lasting depressive symptoms (5-7 days in the past week): 8.0% for Whites vs. 5.0% - 9.1% for different Asian ethnicity groups. Among these mothers, 33.2% of White mothers have sought help from health professionals, while only 0% Vietnamese, 7.4% Korean, 3.9%Indians, 14.5% Chinese, and 15.6%Filipino did so. Further more, 11.5% White, 36.4% Vietnamese, 11.0% Korean, 0% Indian, 15.9% Chinese, and 4.5% Filipino mothers who had the lasting depressive symptoms and who did not seek professional help expressed the need for it.

Conclusion: Asian mothers of infants are less likely to seek help from health professionals even when the depressive symptoms persisted. Help-seeking behavior also varied significantly among different Asian ethnic groups.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

to document the heterogeneity among women from different Asian ethnic groups in
• the prevalence of depressive symptoms in mothers with infants;
• the gap between the need and the care received on these depressive symptoms

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander Women, Maternal Well-Being

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.