Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107996

Jon Dodds, PhD, Public Health Program, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Dr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018, 954-262-1609, jdodds@nsu.nova.edu and John Wright, MD, Holy Cross Hospital, .1402 NE 26th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305.

Postpartum depression in mothers frequently has been cited as being a contributing factor in cases of child maltreatment. If this is indeed the case, pediatricians have urgent reason to refer depressed mothers(or other caregivers)for treatment. However, some pediatrician-informants told us that many pediatricians do not, at present, take initiative to refer the mothers of their patients for treatment of depression. The objective of this survey of the pediatricians in Broward County, Florida is to determine the proportions of pediatricians who do make referrals when their patients' mothers appear depressed, and the reasons for the non-response of those who do not. Reasons explicitly explored included: not recognizing that some mothers are depressed, not knowing of effective treatments or providers to refer to, doubts about their ability to recognize serious depression, and belief that it would be inappropriate for pediatricians to make referrals for a child's parent. Obstacles to such a referral practice are solicited through an open-ended question and analyzed non-numerically. Based on the knowledge gained from this preliminary survey we can choose to either refine our understanding of pediatrician behavior through additional research or go directly to an intervention program. Possible interventions to be discussed include: information on the danger to children posed by caregiver depression, information on effective local providers of depression therapy, information on validated screening instruments for maternal depression, and role modeling of acceptable ways for pediatricians to make referrals to mothers of their patients.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation the attendee will be able to

• Summarize the research evidence for a causal connection between maternal depression and maltreatment of children.
• Summarize the opinions and insights of pediatricians in Broward County, Florida, regarding appropriate responses to a depressed mother of a pediatric patient.
• Select an approach to influencing local medical practitioners that is feasible in light of survey evidence about the practitioners' opinions and insights.
• Apply a similar survey technique to their own locality.

Keywords: Child Health, Medical Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.