Perinatal Anxiety and Mother–Infant Health in Chile

Mental health symptoms during the transition to motherhood are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, where they are also often underrecognized and undertreated. Over the past decades, Chile has developed research, public health policies, and guidelines for the early detection and treatment of maternal depression. Yet, initiatives targeting maternal perinatal anxiety and stress are still very limited. This chapter provides a review of existing evidence on perinatal anxiety in Chile. Firstly, we describe the Chilean context in terms of the prevalence of perinatal mental health problems and existing public policies to address it and proceed by presenting evidence about risk factors for the development of maternal anxiety and stress in our population. This review of risk factors is followed by evidence about the negative consequences of maternal anxiety and stress on child development and well-being from gestation up to childhood. Lastly, we present a brief review of existing interventions to promote maternal emotional well-being during the perinatal period, targeting maternal mental health and the mother–infant relationship. We conclude by arguing that although several efforts have been made in the country to promote maternal and infant well-being, there are still challenges to address.