Postpartum depression in black women: ‘More work needs to be done’

ISLAMABAD, July 23 (online): Women of color are at a higher risk of experiencing postpartum depression than white women and less likely to receive the care they need. In this Special Feature, health disparities expert Prof. Tiffany Green helps us examine some of the reasons behind these inequalities.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition in which the new parent may experience persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, low energy, anxiety, irritability, and poor sleep or appetite.

According to the latest data PPD affects over 11% of women in the United States, or 1 in 9 women. However, the condition does not affect all women equally.

Factors such as a person’s socioeconomic background, income, or race profoundly impact the likelihood of developing this condition and the likelihood of receiving the care and treatment they need.

Studies suggest that PPD is more likely to occur in women of color. One such study — l found that African American women were more than twice as likely to experience postpartum depressive symptoms as white women. The risk for Hispanic women was also almost twice as high.