Social Support and Postpartum Depression Revisited: The Traditional Female Role as Moderator among Mexican Women.

Women who lack social support tend to have a higher risk of postpartum depression. The present study examined the traditional female role, understood here as the adoption of passive and submissive traits specific to Mexican women, as another risk factor for postpartum depressive symptomatology that interacts with social support. Using two waves of data from a longitudinal study of 210 adult Mexican women (20-44 years-old, Mage = 29.50 years, SD = 6.34), we found that lacking social support during the third trimester of their pregnancy was associated with greater depressive symptoms at 6 months in the postpartum, although this relationship depended on the level of endorsement of the traditional female role during pregnancy. Lower social support during pregnancy predicted greater postpartum depressive symptoms for women with higher endorsement of the traditional female role, even when accounting for prenatal depressive symptoms. These results suggest that Mexican women's experience of social support may depend on their individual adherence to gender roles. Understanding the association between women's traditional roles and social support in the risk for postpartum depression can improve prevention and educational programs for women at risk.

Prevalence and incidence of perinatal depression and depressive symptoms among Mexican women.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess point and period prevalence and incidence of perinatal depression in Mexican women. METHODS: The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were administered at three points in time to 210 women: during the third trimester of pregnancy, at six weeks and at six months after delivery. RESULTS: Prevalence of prenatal depression was 9.0%, and 13.8% at six weeks and 13.3% at six months postpartum. Incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) was 10.0% at six weeks and 8.2% at six months. Prevalence of prenatal depressive symptoms was 16.6%; and 17.1% at six weeks and 20.0% at six months postpartum. Incidence of postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) was 11.4% at six weeks and 9.0% at six months. At six months postpartum, women with depression were younger (OR=2.45, p=0.02), had fewer years׳ schooling (OR=5.61, p=0.00), were unpartnered (OR=3.03, p=0.01), unemployed (OR=3.48, p=0.00) and poorer (OR=4.00, p=0.00) than women without depression. LIMITATIONS: 25% of the initial sample was not retained to complete the three assessments. Non completers were younger, less educated and reported more depressive symptoms. This may have resulted in an underestimation of prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first longitudinal study in Latin America to assess perinatal depression at three different points in times, reporting point and period prevalence and incidence of clinical depression and depressive symptoms. Most LA countries have yet to recognize the importance of providing mental health care for expectant and postpartum mothers to reduce disability in mothers and infants.

Opiniones, actitudes y consumo de tabaco en una institución de salud pública / Opinions, attitudes and tobacco consumption in a public health institution

Se aplicó un cuestionario a 260(41,9%) miembros del personal del turno matutino del Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias. El cuestionario investigó las siguientes áreas: datos sociodemográficos, historia e tabaquismo, actitud hacia el cigarrillo y opiniones sobre la Clínica de Tabaquismo. Se encontró que 35% de la población fuma actualmente, 18% ha fumado pero ya lo dejó y 47% nunca ha fumado. De las personas que fuman o han fumado 75% comenzó a hacerlo entre los 15 y 24 años. Al 75% de las personas que fuman actualmente le gustaría dejar de fumar o fumar menos. Noventa y cinco de cada cien consideraron que fumar es nocivo para la salud y 94% comentó que recomendaría que se evitara fumar en las áreas de trabajo. Los resultados del trabajo son un paso preliminar importante en el establecimiento de políticas contra el tabaquismo en la institución