Evidence-based guidance for culturally sensitive assessment and interventions for perinatal depression in black american women: a synthesis of published research, 2008-2011.

Purpose: This article provides a review of published evidence-based guidance about culturally sensitive assessment and treatment intervention strategies addressing perinatal depression in black American women. Culturally sensitive approaches focus more on the woman's environment than on her race and thus may improve access to treatment for perinatal depression by increasing health literacy.

Methods: The authors abstracted evidence-based guidance from articles published between November 2005 and September 2011, including only articles specifically analyzing a discrete sample of black American women during pregnancy or within 6 months postpartum.