@article{ref1,
title="Honesty and comfort levels in mothers when screened for perinatal depression and anxiety",
journal="Women and birth",
year="2019",
author="Forder, Peta M. and Rich, Jane and Harris, Sheree and Chojenta, Catherine and Reilly, Nicole and Austin, Marie-Paule and Loxton, Deborah",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<br><br>Copyright © 2019 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1871-5192",
doi="10.1016/j.wombi.2019.04.001",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2019.04.001"
}