Perinatal depression: its absence among Black Caribbean women

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence from clinical practice suggests that Black Caribbean women rarely consult with symptoms of perinatal depression. Reasons for this are unclear. Unlike White British or South Asian women, there has been little perinatal research within this ethnic group. In-depth qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of Black Caribbean women were undertaken in order to gain insight into the factors which might account for this phenomenon. The sample was drawn from a larger mixed-method, comparative study of prevalence and risk factors for perinatal depression among both Black Caribbean and White British women in the northwest of England (Edge et al, 2004) Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed thematically using QSR NUD*IST4 to facilitate data management. Findings suggest that women's beliefs about mental illness underpinned by personal and socio-cultural attitudes to help seeking might act as barriers to accessing primary care mental health services. Additionally, service provision, antenatal education and the attitudes of some health professionals might prevent women from this ethnic group receiving care and treatment for perinatal depression. The confluence of structural, socio-cultural, and personal barriers might account for the apparent absence of Black Caribbean women from those receiving treatment for perinatal depression.