Prevalence of Maternal Depressive Symptoms in Low-Income Hispanic Women

Linda H. Chaudron, M.D., M.S.; Harriet J. Kitzman, R.N., Ph.D.; Karen L. Peifer, Ph.D.; Scott Morrow, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.M.; Linda M. Perez, Ph.D.; and Mary C. Newman, L.C.S.W.

Background: Maternal depression can have significant repercussions for the health and well-being of mothers and children. In primarily white middle-income populations, approximately 15% of mothers experience depression. Among ethnically and socioeconomically diverse populations, the prevalence of maternal depression has not been as well established. However, the highest rates have been observed among low-income women. Because information about minority, underserved women is particularly sparse, we utilize data from the San Mateo County, California, Prenatal to Three project to describe the prevalence and self-recognition of depressive symptoms among low-income Hispanic mothers of infants and toddlers.

Method: Telephone interviews of a random sample of women who received Medicaid and gave birth in San Mateo County provided our sample of 218 nonpregnant Hispanic mothers. High levels of depressive symptoms were defined as a score of > = 10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). We performed descriptive analyses and analyses of variance.

Results: Twenty-three percent of mothers reported high levels of depressive symptoms. Half of them recognized a need for help with depression.

Conclusions: High levels of maternal depressive symptoms were prevalent among the Hispanic women on Medicaid, but only half of the women experiencing these symptoms identified themselves as needing help with depression.

(J Clin Psychiatry 2005;66:418-423)

Received May 6, 2004; accepted Sept. 13, 2004. From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, N.Y. (Dr. Chaudron); University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, N.Y. (Dr. Kitzman); San José State University, San José, Calif. (Dr. Peifer); San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo County Health Services, San Mateo, Calif. (Dr. Morrow); Department of Education, Mills College, Oakland, Calif. (Dr. Perez); and San Mateo County Prenatal to Three High Risk Team, San Mateo County Health Department, San Mateo County Health Services, San Mateo, Calif. (Ms. Newman).

The authors report no financial affiliations or other relationships relevant to the subject matter of this article.

The authors thank Kimberly Sidora, M.P.H., for her statistical support and contributions to this manuscript and the San Mateo County, California, Prenatal to Three staff and participants.

Corresponding author and reprints: Linda H. Chaudron, M.D., M.S., Department of Psychiatry, 300 Crittenden Blvd., Box Psych, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642 (e-mail: Linda_Chaudron@urmc.rochester.edu).