Table 5 Factors influencing decision to engage with perinatal mental health services
From: Engagement with perinatal mental health services: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey
Question | Not offered PMHS Overall (n = 149) | Offered but did not attend Overall (n = 52) | Offered and attended Overall (n = 10) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lack of time | 0.23 | |||
No influence | 45 (33.3%) | 16 (35.6%) | 6 (60.0%) | |
Some influence | 90 (66.7%) | 29 (64.4%) | 4 (40.0%) | |
Cannot get time off work | 0.098 | |||
No influence | 59 (52.2%) | 25 (71.4%) | 5 (71.4%) | |
Some influence | 54 (47.8%) | 10 (28.6%) | 2 (28.6%) | |
No one to look after my child (ren) while I’m attending an appointment | 0.064 | |||
No influence | 48 (40.3%) | 19 (45.2%) | 6 (85.7%) | |
Some influence | 71 (59.7%) | 23 (54.8%) | 1 (14.3%) | |
No transport to appointment | 0.46 | |||
No influence | 95 (79.2%) | 35 (87.5%) | 6 (75.0%) | |
Some influence | 25 (20.8%) | 5 (12.5%) | 2 (25.0%) | |
How long I had to wait for the appointment | 0.10 | |||
No influence | 81 (62.8%) | 32 (80.0%) | 7 (77.8%) | |
Some influence | 48 (37.2%) | 8 (20.0%) | 2 (22.2%) | |
Inconvenience attending appointment | 0.33 | |||
No influence | 81 (60.9%) | 31 (72.1%) | 6 (75.0%) | |
Some influence | 52 (39.1%) | 12 (27.9%) | 2 (25.0%) | |
Costs related to going to the appointment | < 0.001* | |||
No influence | 63 (48.1%) | 33 (78.6%) | 7 (87.5%) | |
Some influence | 68 (51.9%) | 9 (21.4%) | 1 (12.5%) | |
Previous unhelpful experience with mental health services | 0.074 | |||
No influence | 91 (82.0%) | 30 (69.8%) | 5 (55.6%) | |
Some influence | 20 (18.0%) | 13 (30.2%) | 4 (44.4%) | |
Partner opposed to mental health treatment | 0.048* | |||
No influence | 105 (89.0%) | 42 (100.0%) | 7 (87.5%) | |
Some influence | 13 (11.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (12.5%) | |
Not feeling motivated | 0.79 | |||
No influence | 85 (68.5%) | 27 (62.8%) | 6 (66.7%) | |
Some influence | 39 (31.5%) | 16 (37.2%) | 3 (33.3%) | |
Concern about being judged | 0.16 | |||
No influence | 100 (80.0%) | 38 (86.4%) | 6 (60.0%) | |
Some influence | 25 (20.0%) | 6 (13.6%) | 4 (40.0%) | |
Worried about your mental health | 0.89 | |||
No influence | 74 (54.8%) | 21 (51.2%) | 5 (50.0%) | |
Some influence | 61 (45.2%) | 20 (48.8%) | 5 (50.0%) | |
Encouragement by family | 0.55 | |||
No influence | 52 (39.7%) | 17 (45.9%) | 5 (55.6%) | |
Some influence | 79 (60.3%) | 20 (54.1%) | 4 (44.4%) | |
Encouraged by midwife/GP/obstetrician | 0.43 | |||
No influence | 43 (33.9%) | 17 (44.7%) | 3 (30.0%) | |
Some influence | 84 (66.1%) | 21 (55.3%) | 7 (70.0%) | |
Previous good experience with mental health services | 0.16 | |||
No influence | 45 (45.0%) | 22 (62.9%) | 4 (40.0%) | |
Some influence | 55 (55.0%) | 13 (37.1%) | 6 (60.0%) | |
Required by Department of Child Services | < 0.001* | |||
No influence | 49 (51.0%) | 32 (100.0%) | 6 (100.0%) | |
Some influence | 47 (49.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
Previously suffered from postnatal depression | 0.14 | |||
No influence | 54 (60.0%) | 24 (66.7%) | 6 (100.0%) | |
Some influence | 36 (40.0%) | 12 (33.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
Previously suffered from other mental health issues | 0.67 | |||
No influence | 53 (53.5%) | 19 (51.4%) | 4 (40.0%) | |
Some influence | 46 (46.5%) | 18 (48.6%) | 6 (60.0%) | |
An appointment time that suits me | < 0.001* | |||
No influence | 46 (36.5%) | 27 (75.0%) | 4 (44.4%) | |
Some influence | 80 (63.5%) | 9 (25.0%) | 5 (55.6%) | |
Wanting to discuss medications | 0.083 | |||
No influence | 63 (55.8%) | 26 (74.3%) | 7 (77.8%) | |
Some influence | 50 (44.2%) | 9 (25.7%) | 2 (22.2%) | |
Wanting support/counselling | 0.14 | |||
No influence | 53 (43.1%) | 23 (60.5%) | 5 (55.6%) | |
Some influence | 70 (56.9%) | 15 (39.5%) | 4 (44.4%) | |
Wanting to know what help is available | 0.006* | |||
No influence | 52 (41.6%) | 27 (71.1%) | 4 (44.4%) | |
Some influence | 73 (58.4%) | 11 (28.9%) | 5 (55.6%) |