Mental Health Problems Among Childbearing Women: Historical Perspectives and Social Determinants

Mental health problems among women who are pregnant, or who have recently given birth occur in social, cultural, economic and political contexts. These influence their life opportunities and access to health. They also influence the conceptual frameworks of academics and clincians and therefore the ways in which research questions are posed, investigations designed and data interpreted, and also how individual experiences are assessed, explained and responded to. This chapter provides a perspective on how historical conceptualisations and social determinants have influenced perinatal psychology and psychiatry.