Recruiting Latino women in the US and women in Mexico in postpartum depression prevention research

The negative consequences of untreated depression on the health and well-being of women and their children are well-documented, underscoring the need to develop effective interventions to prevent the onset of major depression during the perinatal period. This article describes recruitment data from two randomized controlled trials of preventive interventions for postpartum depression: one conducted with immigrant Latinas in Washington, DC, United States, and the other with women in Mexico City, Mexico. In both countries, pregnant women met a priori eligibility criteria and were randomized into an 8-week theory-based group intervention. Two hundred and seventeen Latinas in the U.S. and 377 women born and raised in Mexico were enrolled in their respective countries. The recruitment rates (i.e., the number of participants who met eligibility criteria, consented, and randomized into the study) were 70% in the U.S. and in Mexico. Issues and recommendations related to recruiting Hispanic women into preventive intervention trials for postpartum depression are discussed.