Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Perinatal Mood Disorders Among Low-Income Birthing Persons Living in Urban Areas in the United States: History
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Perinatal mood disorders (PMDs) affect approximately 15% of birthing persons during the pregnancy or postpartum (up to one year after birth) time period. People who recently gave birth and are of diverse backgrounds and identities, especially those who are oppressed, are disproportionately affected by PMDs and may experience these conditions differently. One such group is low-income birthing persons living in urban areas. This article will summarize PMDs, including their prevalence rates and how they are disproportionately experienced among low-income birthing persons living in urban areas. The factors to be reviewed include racism, cultural stigma, community stressors, issues with access to services, lack of resources, socioeconomic concerns, and healthcare system problems. Additionally, how PMDs among low-income birthing persons living in urban areas can be prevented, identified, and treated will be discussed. Strategies include practicing cultural humility and promoting anti-oppressive practice, building positive relationships with birthing persons, utilizing formal and informal social supports, promoting community engagement, sharing resources and tangible supports, following universal screening recommendations, addressing barriers to care, and advocating for effective policies.

  • perinatal mood disorders
  • low-income mothers
  • maternal and child health
Each year in the United States, an estimated 5.4 million people become pregnant [1] and 3.6 million deliver a live birth [2]. Of these individuals, approximately 15% will be diagnosed with a perinatal mood disorder [3][4]. Perinatal mental health conditions have emerged as a primary cause of 23% of maternal deaths in the United States [5].

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/encyclopedia6040093

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Births and Natality. 2025. Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/births.htm (accessed on 13 April 2026).
  2. Fawcett, E.J.; Fairbrother, N.; Cox, M.L.; White, I.R.; Fawcett, J.M. The prevalence of anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period: A multivariate Bayesian meta-analysis. J. Clin. Psychiatry 2019, 80, 18r12527.
  3. O’Hara, M.W.; Wisner, K.L. Perinatal mental illness: Definition, description, and aetiology. Best Pract. Res. Clin. Obstet. Gynaecol. 2014, 28, 3–12.
  4. Barfield, W.D.; Ghenet, B.; Cox, S.; Warner, L.; Azeez, O.; Riggs, J.; Russell, R.; Bowron, S.; Churchill, R.E. From Data to Action: CDC’s Public Health Surveillance for Women, Infants, and Children, 2nd ed.; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, GA, USA, 2020. Available online: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/100800 (accessed on 13 April 2026).
More
This entry is offline, you can click here to edit this entry!
Academic Video Service

Quick Survey

Encyclopedia MDPI is conducting a targeted survey to identify the specific barriers hindering efficient research. We invite you to spend 3 minutes defining the priorities for our next generation of structured knowledge tools.
Take Survey