Abstract:
Background :
World Health Organization (WHO), has reported that depression is a
widespread psychiatric disease that affects more than 264 million people worldwide and postnatal depression (PND) is one of the most common causes of maternal distress, representing a major public health issue affecting the mother, her infant and her family. The purpose ofthis study was to determine the level of awareness on PND and its predisposing factors, and factors associated with the awareness.
Methodology:
350 couples attending antenatal follow up had responded to a survey
in which the level of awareness on mental Health ( MH) problems during the postpartum period, factors that predispose to and coping mechanism of PND has been determined.
Results:
PND is the most common type of MH problem identified. Factors that were
associated with the level of awareness were gender and age of the respondents. Three hundred and fifty couples responded to the questionnaires. The mean age was 31.2 years ( SD =5.3). The mean level of awareness of the factors predisposing to postnatal depression of husbands 114.43(±9.83) was significantly higher than wives 112.87 (± 10.48 ), (t= -2.03, p = 0.043). Multiple linear regression showed that female
gender was positively correlated with awareness b = 1.96 , 95% CI: 0.28, 3.64 , p = 0.022. Increasing age was negatively associated with awareness b = -0.21 95% CI: (-0.36, -0.06 ) , p = 0.007. The model R2 was 0.028.
Conclusion:
Primary health centre plays an important role in health care promotion.
The health education program should involve both pregnant women and their husband as they will facilitate early detection of postnatal depression.
Keywords:
Postnatal depression, postpartum depression awareness, pregnant
women, husband, factors
