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Learning Objective 1: understand the postpartum adaptaion and depression of first time mothers in northern taiwanese.
Learning Objective 2: provide focus areas of postpartum care based on the finding of this study.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationships between postpartum adaptation and postpartum depression among first time mothers who lived in northern
Methods:
A total of 186 participants, recruited by convenience sampling completed mailed questionnaires between 1 week and 2 months after giving birth. Structured questionnaires including Demographic Inventory Scale, the Postpartum Self-Evaluation Questionnaire, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used.
Results: The results showed: (1) 94(50.5%) women exhibited depressive symptoms (EPDS > 10) and 73 (39.2%) women were suggested to seek for professional help (2) The correlation between women’s different aspects of postpartum adaptation and postpartum depression ranged from low to medium; (3) The best subsets for predicting postpartum depression were as follows: confidence in their own competence of motherhood tasks (31% of total variation), satisfaction with life circumstances, and perception of partner’s participation in child care. These three subsets explained 43.4% of total variation; (4) Women with unplanned births, low socioeconomic status, part-time employment, younger of age, and living with an extended family are at high-risk for postpartum adaptation and postpartum depression; (5) approximately 154(84.2%) primiparas are willing to accept the follow-up psychology counseling.
Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that health care providers who worked with first time mothers during the first two months of postpartum period after giving birth should pay much attention to the following areas: (1)conducting screening assessment and referral services on postpartum depression, (2) advocating on helping first time mothers to built confidence on motherhood tasks such as infant care (3) involving adn encouraging fathers in child care and (4) improving family and friends’ support for maternal role.