Brandie Green

Graduation Semester and Year

2018

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Public and Urban Administration

Department

Urban and Public Affairs

First Advisor

Karabi Bezboruah

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the resources that are available to women in underserved communities to detect and treat postpartum depression. Postpartum depression continues to be a major public health issue. Although there are screening methods and treatments that are available to address this mental illness, the rates of detection are still low leading to a number of women that suffer from postpartum depression and go untreated. Two populations that have proven to be at a higher risk of postpartum depression are those from underserved communities and minority populations. This research takes a deeper look into the resources afforded for postpartum depression for those in underserved communities by utilizing a case study approach and comparing the capacity of those resources to those in an affluent community. Based on the results from the qualitative interviews conducted, it is apparent that there is a diminished capacity of resources in an underserved community in comparison to an affluent one and the policies and procedures that are currently being used in the facilities that offer both prenatal and postnatal women’s care are not currently in alignment with the policies that are in place on the local and state level. A stakeholder analysis was conducted to determine which stakeholders would be most influential in making alterations to the current policies to make them more beneficial in addressing the rising postpartum depression rates.

Keywords

Capacity, Policy analysis, Stakeholder analysis, Nonprofit, Health disparities

Disciplines

Public Affairs | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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