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Utilization of Psychiatric Services by Postpartum Women in a Predominantly Minority, Low-Socioeconomic-Status, Urban Population

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Abstract

This study describes the utilization of health care services related to psychiatric diagnoses in an inner city community health organization with a largely Hispanic population of low socioeconomic status. We reviewed the frequency and timing of postpartum mental health diagnoses among 5,731 patients who delivered babies and were followed-up for postpartum care. 286 women (5 %) had at least one mental health diagnosis. The rates in white, black, and Hispanic women were 12, 8, and 5 % respectively (p < .05). White and black women were 2.5 (95 % CI 1.24, 5.07), and 1.62 (95 % CI 1.09, 2.40) times more likely to have a mental health diagnosis, respectively, compared to Hispanic women. The most common diagnoses were mood disorders (64 %) followed by anxiety disorders (29 %). 87 % of cases were diagnosed after 4 weeks postpartum. The postpartum mental health diagnosis rate seen here is lower than might be expected, particularly among Hispanic women. Possible explanations are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This investigation was supported by a grant from the Women’s Fund for Health and Education Research, and partly supported with the resources and facilities of the Houston VA HSR&D Center of Excellence (HFP90-020). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Veterans Affairs, US government or Baylor College of Medicine. We thank Roxanne Bloomquist at HHS for her assistance in obtaining the data and Elizabeth Lowenthal, M.D. for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Houston, TX, USA

    Rhoda Seplowitz

  2. The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Harold Miller

  3. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar & Mark E. Kunik

  4. Laurelton Research, Oakland, CA, USA

    Elana Silver

  5. Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Mark E. Kunik

  6. University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

    Britta Ostermeyer

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  1. Rhoda Seplowitz
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  2. Harold Miller
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  3. Britta Ostermeyer
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  4. Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar
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  5. Elana Silver
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  6. Mark E. Kunik
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Correspondence to Rhoda Seplowitz.

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Seplowitz, R., Miller, H., Ostermeyer, B. et al. Utilization of Psychiatric Services by Postpartum Women in a Predominantly Minority, Low-Socioeconomic-Status, Urban Population. Community Ment Health J 51, 275–280 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9808-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9808-6

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