NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 3 Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy 

 

CHWs will interact directly with the at-risk Latina expectant mothers. CHWs will help improve depression screening and use of community resources. CHWs will educate the mothers on the PPD, the significance of early detection, and the effects of PPD on the newborn. Stigma, lack of recognition of symptoms or misconceptions about PPD among Latinas and their physicians can complicate early detection of depressive or anxiety symptoms (Sampson et al., 2021). They will educate with sensitivity to the Latino culture while also trying to decrease the stigma of PPD. With consideration to their main role at the WIC office, CHWs will also focus on the self-care, nutrition for the mother and child while also encouraging partner support. 

Studies from Lutenbacher et al. (2018) and Sampson et al. (2021) both support early intervention, culturally appropriate assessment, and community support for Latina mothers. Individual and cultural beliefs complicate the presentation and interpretation of depressive symptoms in Latina mothers it is imperative to connect them with a CHW who understands their struggles. CHWs will engage in meaningful discussions with the at-risk mothers offering counter narratives to the traditional patriarchal ideas of their culture to improve maternal mental health and wellbeing (Sampson et al., 2021).

References

Lara-Cinisomo, S., Zhu, K., Fei, K., Bu, Y., Weston, A. P., & Ravat, U. (2018). Traumatic events: Exploring associations with maternal depression, infant bonding, and oxytocin in latina mothers. BMC Women’s Health, 18(1), 31-31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0520-5

Lutenbacher, M., Elkins, T., Dietrich, M. S., & Riggs, A. (2018). The efficacy of using peer mentors to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in hispanic families: Findings from a randomized clinical trial. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22(Suppl 1), 92-104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2532-z

Rajendran, S., Lutenbacher, M., & Dietrich, M. S. (2021). Negative Correlation Between Health Care Coverage and Postpartum Depression Among Hispanic Women. Hispanic Health Care International, 19(3), 182-189. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540415321993428 

Sampson, M., Yu, M., Mauldin, R., Mayorga, A., & Gonzalez, L. G. (2021). ‘You withhold what you are feeling so you can have a family’: Latinas’ perceptions on community values and postpartum depression. Family Medicine and Community Health, 9(3), e000504. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2020-000504

Shellman, L., Beckstrand, R. L., Callister, L. C., Luthy, K. E., & Freeborn, D. (2014). Postpartum depression in immigrant Hispanic women: a comparative community sample. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 26(9), 488–497. https://doi.org/10.1002/2327-6924.12088

Letter to the Editors and Reply

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