Understanding Barriers and Facilitators for Postpartum Depression Referrals
Author Information
Author(s): Rhonda C. Boyd, Marjie Mogul, Deena Newman, James C. Coyne
Primary Institution: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Hypothesis
What are the barriers and facilitators for referring postpartum women with depression to mental health services?
Conclusion
Community health workers identified several barriers and facilitators for referring postpartum women with depression to mental health services.
Supporting Evidence
- Community health workers play a major role in providing care for postpartum women.
- Barriers to mental health services include stigma, lack of transportation, and childcare issues.
- Facilitators for referrals include building trusting relationships and assisting with logistics.
Takeaway
This study looked at how community health workers help new moms with depression get the help they need, and what makes it hard for them to do so.
Methodology
Focus groups with community health workers were conducted to gather qualitative data on their practices and experiences regarding mental health referrals for postpartum women.
Potential Biases
The sample may be biased as it included community health workers who were more engaged with mental health issues.
Limitations
The sample size was small and may not represent all community health workers, as those more interested in mental health issues were more likely to participate.
Participant Demographics
Participants were 16 female community health workers, with varying years of experience and educational backgrounds.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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