Barriers to access to mental healthcare among women in the perinatal period: a preliminary report

Nicoletta Giacchetti; Elena Gasparini; Elisabetta Barlocci; Isabella Bove; Francesco Saverio Bersani; Paola Ciolli; Franca Aceti

doi:10.1007/s00737-023-01413-1

Barriers to access to mental healthcare among women in the perinatal period: a preliminary report

Arch Womens Ment Health. 2024 Jun;27(3):481-484. doi: 10.1007/s00737-023-01413-1. Epub 2023 Dec 15.

Authors

Nicoletta Giacchetti¹, Elena Gasparini², Elisabetta Barlocci¹, Isabella Bove¹, Francesco Saverio Bersani¹, Paola Ciolli³, Franca Aceti⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
² Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. elena.gasparini@uniroma1.it.
³ Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. franca.aceti@uniroma1.it.

PMID: 38102526
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-023-01413-1

Abstract

This preliminary study investigates factors related to reduced access to mental healthcare among women in the perinatal period. We enrolled 145 pregnant women followed in OB-GYN services, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as a clinical measure for depression symptoms. We observed low levels of adherence to psychiatric screenings and referrals. Our findings confirm the importance of improving access to mental healthcare for women in the perinatal period.

Keywords: Mental healthcare; Perinatal depressive disorders; Psychopathology; Public health.

MeSH terms

Adult
Depression / diagnosis
Depression, Postpartum / diagnosis
Depression, Postpartum / epidemiology
Depression, Postpartum / therapy
Female
Health Services Accessibility*
Humans
Mental Health Services* / statistics & numerical data
Perinatal Care*
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women / psychology
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data
Young Adult