Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Symptomatology and Mental Health Care Utilization Among WIC Mothers

Abstract

This 1999 pilot study of 127 ethnically diverse mothers in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program addressed mental health symptomatology using the PrimeMD tool and mental health care utilization. Prevalence of anxiety symptoms differed by presence of support and self-perceived health status. Prevalence of depressive symptoms differed by age. Mental health care utilization differed by ethnicity, age and presence of support. The ethnically diverse sample allowed investigation of the appropriateness of broad ethnic/racial categories. Differences between English and Spanish-speaking Puerto Ricans would have been obscured if analyses had been limited to broad ethnic/racial groupings.

Racial disparities in perinatal mental health care during COVID-19

“…erinatal mental health disorders such as perinatal depression are common complications of pregnancy 1 and cause significant disability in mothers and children. 2 Yet despite facing higher 12-month rates of depression than White women, 3 Black and Hispanic women are less likely than White women to be diagnosed with and receive treatment for postpartum depression. 4 In addition to leading to >800,000 deaths in the United States alone (as of mid-December 2021), 5 COVID-19 has disrupted health care delivery, including perinatal mental health services.…”