Mother-infant separation among mothers with mental illness: An exploratory observational study in Japan

Knowledge and attitudes of family members towards postpartum depression

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) has been recently recognized as a public health issue. While family members play an important role in early recognition of PPD among women, research that explores family members awareness on PPD is limited from India.

AIM

To explore the knowledge and attitudes of family members towards postpartum depression.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional survey carried out among family members of postpartum women (N = 202) at a pediatric tertiary care center. The data was collected through face to face interview technique using a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

The mean scores on knowledge (18.92 ± 3.27) attitude (31.39 ± 4.91) scales suggest that a majority of the participants had a good level of knowledge (54%) and positive attitudes (69.7%) towards women with postpartum depression. However, misconceptions and negative stereotypes related to postpartum depression still prevailed. Family members who had a good level of education (χ2 = 4.21, p < 0.05) and had come across women with postpartum depression (χ2 = 13.27, p < 0.001) hold positive attitudes towards postpartum depression compared to family members with a lower level of education and those did not come across women with postpartum depression.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study suggest the need for educational campaigns to improve perinatal mental health literacy and address prejudices and negative stereotypes related to postpartum depression among family members.

Perinatal depression-knowledge gap among service providers and service utilizers in India

INTRODUCTION

Lack of access to perinatal mental health (PMH) services is a significant public health problem in India. Barriers to accessing PMH services include the stigma, non-availability of services, poor knowledge, negative perception, attitude among perinatal women (PWs) and service providers. The present study attempted to examine the knowledge gap regarding perinatal depression (PD) among service providers [Nursing providers (NPs), Medical Practitioners (MPs)] and service utilizers (PWs).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary care teaching hospitals of India, one in a major metro and the other in a rural area. PWs, MPs and NPs were assessed for knowledge about PD using a semi-structured proforma and Perinatal Depression Monitor.

RESULTS

Among the 270 PWs, 8.51% were knowledgeable (PWA) and 91.49% were ignorant (PWB) about depression. PWB group were low educated (n = 140, 56.68%), and unemployed (n = 207, 83.80%) with lower family income [(≤₹10,356 per month), n = 170, 68.28%)]. There was knowledge discrepancy among NPs, MPs and PWA group in terms of a) PD is a normal part of pregnancy (agree- NPs = 71.52%, MPs = 10.00%, PWA-17.39%), b)biological causes of PD (agree- NPs = 45.23%, MPs = 70.00%, PWA = 26.03%) and c)antidepressant medications for PD (useful- NPs = 23.80%, MPs = 70.00%, PWA = 21.73%). Majority of the respondents agreed that all women should be screened for depression during pregnancy (NPs = 34.78%, MPs = 80.95%, PWA = 95.00%) and postpartum periods (NPs = 34.78%, MPs = 76.19%, PWA = 90.00%).

CONCLUSIONS

Low PD literacy among the PWs, misconception about aetiology and management among the NPs could be major barrier for delivery and utilisation of PD services. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve PD literacy among PWs and NPs.