Abstract
The aim of the study was the identification of the cultural postpartum prevention practices of African American families. Using qualitative methods, 30 postpartum African American mothers were assessed for their degree of acculturation into the Anglo-American culture. The mothers were interviewed to ascertain their postpartum depression prevention practices. Degree of acculturation was ascertained using the Landrine & Klonoff (1995) African American Acculturation Scale. Cultural factors were identified using the Stern & Kruckman (1983) model of postpartum depression prevention criteria. Most mothers were found to be medium acculturated into the Anglo-American culture and exhibited several prevention criteria, including a designated postpartum period and the presence of female help, especially sisters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Affonson, D. D., De, A. K., Horowitz, J. A., & Mayberry, L. J. (2000). An international study exploring levels of postpartum depressive symptomatology. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49, 207–216.
Altshuler, L., Cohen, L., Moline, L., Kahn, D., Carpenter, D., & Docherty, J. (2001). The Expert Consensus Guideline Series: Treatment of Depression in Women. New York: McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.
Bacon, C., DiMaio, V., Carpenter, R., Waite, A., Coombs, R., Damon-Williams, C. & Huber, J. (2005). Repeat sudden unexpected and unexplained infant deaths: natural or unnatural? Lancet, 365(9465), 1137–1138.
Cominsky, S. (1977). Childbirth and midwifery on a Guatemalan fince. Medical Anthropology, 1, 69–104.
Coreil, J., Wilson, F., Wood, D., & Liller, K. (1999). Maternal employment and preventive child health practices. Preventive Medicine, 27(3), 488–492.
Davies, B., Howells, S., & Jenkins, M. (2003). Early detection and treatment of postnatal depression in primary care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 44(3) 248–255.
Ehrenberg, H., Dierker, L., Milluzi, C. & Mercer, B. (2003). Low maternal weight, failure to thrive in pregnancy, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gyunecology, 189(6), 1726–1730.
Gideon, H. (1962). A baby is born in the Punjab. American Anthropologist, 64, 1220–1234.
George, L. (2005). Lack of preparedness: experiences of first-time mothers. The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 30(4), 251–255.
Goodman, J. (2004). Postpartum depression beyond the early postpartum period. Journal of Obstetric, Gyunecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 33(4), 410–420.
Gordon, T., Cardone, I., Kim, J., Gordon, S., & Silver, R. (2006). Universal Perinatal Depression Screening in an Academic Medical Center. Obstetrics & Gynecology 107, 342–347.
Harner, H. (2005). Childhood sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, and partnering with adult men: exploring the relationship. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 43(8), 20–28, 48–49.
Johnson, D., Jin, Y., & Truman, C. (2002). Early discharge of Alberta mothers post-delivery and the relationship to potentially preventable newborn readmissions. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 93(4), 276–280.
Kelly, J. (1967). The influence of native customs on obstetrics in Nigeria. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 30, 608–612.
Landrine, H., & Klonoff, E. (1995). The African American acculturation scale II: Cross validation and short form. Journal of Black Psychology, 21(2), 124–152.
Mead, M., & Newton, C. (1967). Cultural patterning of perinatal behavior. In S. Richardson & A. Guttmacher (Eds.), Childbearing: Its Social and Psychological Aspects. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Merewood, A., Mehta, S., Chamberlain, L., Phillip, B., & Bauchner, H. (2005). Breastfeeding rates in US baby-friendly hospitals: Results of a national survey. Pediatrics, 116(3), 628–634.
Morse, J. & Field, P. (1995). Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Munoz, C., Agruss, J., Haeger, A., & Silversten, L. (2006). Postpartum depression: detection and treatment in the primary setting. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 2(4), 247–253.
National Mental Health Association. (2004). Depression-depression in women. Retrieved September 25, 2004 from http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/23.cfm.
Nichols, M., & Roux, G. (2004). Maternal perspectives of postpartum return to the workplace. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 33(4), 463–471.
Poleshuck, E. & Giles, D. (2006). Pain and depressive symptoms among financially disadvantaged women’s health patients. Journal of Women’s Health, 15(2), 182–193.
Rich-Edwards, J., Kleinman, K., Abrams, A., Harlow, B., McLaughlin, T., Joffe, H., & Gillman, M. (2006). Sociodemographic predictors of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms among women in a medical group practice. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 60(3), 221–227.
Rafael, D. (1976). The tender gift: Breastfeeding. New York: Shocken Books.
Schnitzer, P. & Ewigman, B. (2005). Child-deaths resulting from inflicted injuries: Household risk factors and perpetrator characteristics. Pediatrics, 116, Supplement e687–693.
Seidel, J. (1988). The ethnograph. Boulder, CO: Qualis Research Associates.
Silver, E., Heneghan, A., Bauman, L., & Stein, R. (2006). The relationship of depressive symptoms to parenting competence and social support in inner-city mothers of young children. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 10(1), 105–112.
Stern, G. & Kruckman, L. (1983). Multi-disciplinary perspectives on post-partum depression: An anthropological critique. Social Science and Medicine, 17, 1027–1041.
Sword, W. (2005). Review: some specific preventive psychosocial and psychological interventions reduce risk of postpartum depression. Evidenced-Based Nursing, 8(3), 76.
Tseng W. S. (2001). Handbook of Cultural Psychiatry. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Ugarriza, D. (2002). Postpartum depressed women’s explanation of depression. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 34(3), 227–233.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2003). Maternal, infant, and child health. Retrieved February 2005 from www.healthypoeple.gov/data2010prog/focus.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Her areas of specialization are psychiatric mental health nursing, nursing theory and research related to women’s mental health issues, and culture, depression, and women, particularly postpartum depression.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ugarriza, D.N. Social support unique to African American mothers. Journal of African American Studies 10, 19–31 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-006-1006-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-006-1006-3