Background:

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a public health issue, and appropriate screening may lead to clinical gains.

Aim:

To describe the screening for PPD, its relationship with the use of health care services, and treatment access barriers in Chilean public primary health care (PHC) centers.

Material and Methods:

Puerperal women attending PHC centers for a well-child check-up were assessed for the presence of PPD using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a structured psychiatric interview. PPD cases were assessed by telephone three months later. Also, women with PPD and PHC workers were interviewed to explore treatment barriers.

Results:

Of the 305 women assessed, 21% met diagnostic criteria for PPD. Sixty five percent of assessed women were previously screened for PPD while attending well-child check-ups. The results of the screening were communicated to 60% of them and 28% received some management indication. After three months of follow up, 70% of PPD cases continued to be depressed, and two thirds of them did not consult a health care provider and most of them rejected psychotherapy or medical treatment.

Conclusions:

Management of postpartum depression should be substantially improved in public PHC from screening to treatment.