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Perinatal Depression among Spanish-Speaking and Latin American Women pp 15–37Cite as

Maternity, Migration, and Mental Health: Comparison Between Spanish and Latina Immigrant Mothers in Postpartum Depression and Health Behaviors

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Abstract

This chapter has two objectives. First, it provides an overview of the state of the art of the assistance of postpartum depression (PPD) in the context of the Spanish Health System. Second, it describes a study aimed to explore the differences between Spanish and Spanish-speaking Latin American immigrant (LAI) mothers in terms of rates of PPD and health behaviors. LAI mothers are socioeconomically disadvantaged; they are younger, have less support from their partner, and have more economic problems than Spanish mothers. Seventeen percent of the LAI mothers will develop PPD, and 11 % a major depressive episode in the postpartum period. They have an increased risk of PPD and poorer reproductive health habits (unplanned pregnancies and induced abortions) than Spanish mothers, with the exception of the preference for breast-feeding. Given the vulnerability of LAI mothers living in Spain, efforts to address their psychosocial and perinatal mental health needs should be addressed by healthcare providers at all levels.

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Abbreviations

ABS:

Primary health care (Spain)

AC:

Autonomous community (Spain)

CatSalut:

Catalan health service (Spain)

CBT:

Cognitive behavioral therapy

CI:

Confidence interval

CSMA:

Community Adult Mental Health Center (Spain)

DSM-IV:

Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

ECT:

Electroconvulsive therapy

EPDS:

Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale

ETI-SF:

Early Trauma Inventory—Short Form

GHQ:

General Health Questionnaire

GP:

General practitioner

HRC:

High resolution consultation

Idescat:

Catalan Statistics Institute (Spain)

INE:

National Statistics Institute (Spain)

ISA:

Index of Spouse Abuse

LAI:

Latin American immigrant women (Spanish speaking)

MBU:

Mother–baby unit

NHS:

National Health System (Spain)

NICE:

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

OECD:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

PASSIR:

Sexual and Reproductive Health Assistance Program (Spain)

PBQ:

Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire

PPD:

Postpartum depression

RD:

Royal decree

SCID:

Structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders

STAI:

State–Trait Anxiety Inventory

T-ACE:

Tolerance, Annoyed, Cut down, Eye-Opener (alcohol screening test)

UK:

United Kingdom

US:

United States of America

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Perinatal Psychiatry and Gender Research Unit, Neuroscience Clinic Institute, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Lluïsa Garcia-Esteve M.D., Ph.D., Anna Torres Giménez B.S., Mª Luisa Imaz Gurrutxaga M.D. & Purificación Navarro García Ph.D.

  2. Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Lluïsa Garcia-Esteve M.D., Ph.D., Anna Torres Giménez B.S. & Mª Luisa Imaz Gurrutxaga M.D.

  3. Servei d’Atenció Psicològica, Regidoria de Polítiques de Gènere de l’Ajuntament de Terrassa, Nou de Sant Pere 36, 08221, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain

    Purificación Navarro García Ph.D.

  4. Department of Public Health, University of Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036, Barcelona, Spain

    Carlos Ascaso Terrén Ph.D.

  5. Departamento de Psicología Clínica y de la Salud Facultad de Psicología, Edificio B. Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, España

    Estel Gelabert Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Lluïsa Garcia-Esteve M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Anna Torres Giménez B.S.
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  3. Mª Luisa Imaz Gurrutxaga M.D.
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  4. Purificación Navarro García Ph.D.
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  5. Carlos Ascaso Terrén Ph.D.
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  6. Estel Gelabert Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lluïsa Garcia-Esteve M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Katherine Leah Wisner

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Garcia-Esteve, L., Giménez, A.T., Gurrutxaga, M.L.I., García, P.N., Terrén, C.A., Gelabert, E. (2014). Maternity, Migration, and Mental Health: Comparison Between Spanish and Latina Immigrant Mothers in Postpartum Depression and Health Behaviors. In: Lara-Cinisomo, S., Wisner, K. (eds) Perinatal Depression among Spanish-Speaking and Latin American Women. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8045-7_2

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