Jannati N, Farokhzadian J, Ahmadian L. The Experience of Healthcare Professionals Providing Mental Health Services to Mothers with Postpartum Depression: A qualitative study.
Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2021;
21:554-562. [PMID:
34888074 PMCID:
PMC8631231 DOI:
10.18295/squmj.4.2021.031]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives
This study aimed to describe the experience of healthcare professionals in
providing mental health services to women with postpartum depression
(PPD).
Methods
In this qualitative study, data were collected through semi-structured
interviews with five physicians, five midwives and five psychologists from
14 urban healthcare centres in Kerman, Iran, from April 2019 to September
2019. Purposeful sampling was used to select the participants. Data were
qualitatively analysed using a content analysis approach.
Results
Data analysis revealed the main theme of the study: ‘the long way
ahead for comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health
services’. This theme included four categories: ‘postpartum
depression challenges’, ‘social and personal
factors’, ‘structural challenges’ and ‘need
for change in mental health services’. The participants described
that depression diagnosis is difficult due to insufficient knowledge among
healthcare providers and the hidden signs of PPD. They also described how
different factors such as economic and cultural factors, personality traits,
a community’s lack of knowledge, negative attitude towards
depression and limited family support might cause depression. Moreover,
providing mental health services involves certain challenges, such as
limited human resources, insufficient financial resources and incomplete or
inefficient policy-making.
Conclusion
Although measures have been taken to provide mental health services, there
are many challenges regarding providing mental health services to mothers.
Therefore, serious measures should be taken to improve mental health
services and re-define the existing measures. Informing the community,
empowering the healthcare providers and attempting to change the
community’s attitudes and beliefs can affect the mental healthcare
of women with depression.
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