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Betsy Lynn Sleath, PhD, School of Pharmacy Beard Hall, University of North Carolina, CB # 7360, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360, 919-962-0079, betsy_sleath@unc.edu, Sue West, PhD, Cecil Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, CB # 7590, Chapel Hilll, NC 27599, Gail Tudor, PhD, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Cb #7420, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, Krista Perreira, PhD, Department of Public Policy, University of North Carolina, CB # 3435, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, and Joseph Morrissey, PhD, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 725 Airport Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7590.
The primary purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between ethnicity, the presence of moderate to severe symptoms of depression, and communication about emotions and feelings during prenatal visits. In addition, the women were asked to describe their perceptions of the barriers to communicating with providers, family, and friends about their emotions or feelings and how to overcome these barriers. Seventy-three women were recruited and interviewed by a bilingual research assistant between June and September 2002 after a prenatal visit occurring between 12 and 32 weeks’ gestation. Nineteen percent of women screened as having moderate to severe symptoms of depression. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between the quality of social relationships and whether women had moderate to severe symptoms of depression. Almost 29 percent of women reported discussing their emotions or feelings with their providers, which did not differ significantly by ethnicity. Women who discussed their emotions or feelings with their providers had significantly higher scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) than those who did not. Thirty-four percent of women stated that there were barriers to expectant or new mothers communicating with their providers and those who perceived barriers had significantly higher BDI-II scores than those women who did not. With regard to communication barriers with family and friends, 37percent of expectant or new mothers perceived barriers in discussing their emotions. To overcome these barriers, women felt a need to develop trust and a feeling of comfort in discussing their feelings with their providers and families.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Mental Health, Prenatal Care
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.