Postpartum Depression Among White, African American, and Hispanic Low-Income Mothers in Rural Southeastern North Carolina

The purpose of this study was to assess factors impacting postpartum depression (PPD) among the 61 White, African American, and Hispanic low-income Medicaid recipients who enrolled in a prenatal program at a local health department in rural Southeastern North Carolina. The findings indicate that mothers who experienced mood changes, such as depression and anxiety, before or during pregnancy reported an increased level of PPD (p = 0.035). Nearly a third of the mothers displayed either minor (17.3%) or major (15.4%) depressive symptoms. Community health nurses working with this population need to be increasingly aware of the underlying causes and prevalence of PPD among low income mothers for early screening and intervention.