In Australia, perinatal depression affects 15% - 20% of pregnant women. Depression does not go\naway on its own, getting help at early stages shown to be effective in treating antenatal depression.\nAim of this study is to assess and describe the screening of women through the antenatal clinic and\nmeasure the outcome of services provided (such as counselling, social assistance) for those at risk\nof depression, in a general hospital setting in an ethnically diverse part of Sydney, Australia. Data\nfrom 193 women were obtained through accessing the psychosocial and screening assessments\ncompleted at the antenatal clinic between 2007 and 2008. Data regarding patientsââ?¬â?¢ psychosocial\ncharacteristics, referrals and interventions were also gathered from hospital records. Data revealed\nthat 60.4% of women screened scored ââ?°Â¥10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale\n(EDPS) which is indicative of significant depressive symptomatology. Of these women, 39.4% went\non to receive a formal diagnosis. Women who indicated that they had planned their pregnancies\n(47.2%) were significantly less likely to report having major worries and stressors over the last 12\nmonths (p < 0.05) in comparison to those who indicated that their pregnancies were unplanned.\nData showed while screening methods are effective, regrettably a high proportion of women, despite\npresenting with ââ?¬Å?at riskââ?¬Â symptomatology levels, do not engage in intervention programs.\nFurther research is required to explore the barriers in accessing both screening and intervention\nservices (particularly in a culturally diverse area such as this), and how services can improve\nprocesses and patient participation.
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