SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Forder PM, Rich J, Harris S, Chojenta C, Reilly N, Austin MP, Loxton D. Women Birth 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: Deborah.Loxton@newcastle.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.wombi.2019.04.001

PMID

31133524

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the degree of honesty and level of comfort reported by women when questioned about their emotional wellbeing during the perinatal period; to investigate if honesty and comfort are associated with perinatal depression or perinatal anxiety; and to examine the reasons why women may not always respond honestly.

METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative data from 1597 women from the cross-sectional perinatal mental health substudy (part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health) were analysed using a mixed methods approach.

RESULTS: When questioned by their health practitioner about their emotional wellbeing in the perinatal period, 20.7% of women indicated they had not always responded honestly. Reasons for not being honest reflected four main themes: normalizing of symptoms/coping; negative perceptions (self-and others); fear of adverse repercussions; and fear of involvement of health services (trust and confidentiality). The 38.9% of women who did not feel comfortable when questioned by their health practitioner about their emotional wellbeing were four times more likely to report perinatal depression (odds ratio = 4.09; 95% confidence interval = 2.55, 6.57) and nearly twice as likely to report perinatal anxiety (odds ratio = 1.90; 95% confidence interval = 1.24, 2.94) than other women.

CONCLUSIONS: Women who are most likely to need mental health care during the perinatal period are also those least likely to be honest about their mental health. A non-judgemental, open and reassuring approach by clinicians may help to reduce the stigma and fears contributing to lack of honest responses, and improve early diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems.

Copyright © 2019 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Language: en

Keywords

Barrier; Honesty; Perinatal anxiety; Perinatal depression; Screening

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print