Exploration of mental health literacy regarding postpartum depression among postpartum women and their relatives

Wan, MAI-LI

Saturday, 16 November 2013

MAI-LI Wan, Master. RN, CNM,
Department of Nursing, BEST Midwives Clinic,, Yilan County, Taiwan
Li-Chiu Lin, PhD MS RN
Nursing department, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan
Chettha Kaewprom, RN, MN, PhD
Department of Mental Health Nursing, Phrapkklao Nursing College, Chanthaburi, Thailand

Learning Objective 1: how is information about postpartum depression disseminated to the public in Taiwan?

Learning Objective 2: the strategies promoting mental health and preventing mental illness for postpartum women and their relatives.

Postpartum depression is a mental illness that is occasionally found among postpartum women. Internationally, Ghorbanshiroudi and colleagues (2011) report that there are 4-29% of females diagnosed with postpartum depression during a period of 4-6 weeks after childbirth. In Taiwan, the prevalence of postpartum depression is about 13 % reported (Shiou, Lin, Liou & Shih 2009). However, there is no study about mental health literacy regarding postpartum depression among postpartum women and their relatives in Taiwan.

This study aims to exploratory and address the following questions including 1) how is information about postpartum depression disseminated to the public 2) What are the beliefs of postpartum women and their relative in relation to the causes of postpartum depression 3) What are the beliefs of postpartum women and their relative in relation to helpful activities for women with postpartum depression 4) What are attitudes of postpartum women’s relatives towards women with postpartum depression?

Postpartum women and their major care givers were selected in Taoyuan County Taiwan. Data were collected by using an opened questionnaire which combines with contain analysis with participants’ consent to achieve the target of this study. The results showed that participants did not have enough information to know postpartum depression. Family conditions were participants’ major impression of causing postpartum depression.

This study will not only provide several useful recommendations for health givers the literacy regarding postpartum depression among postpartum women and their relatives but also to contribute the development of strategies promoting mental health and preventing mental illness for postpartum women.

See more of: Clinical Posters Session 1
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Clinical Sessions