scholarly journals Associations between postpartum depression and assistance with household tasks and childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from American mothers

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa E. Gildner ◽  
Glorieuse Uwizeye ◽  
Rebecca L. Milner ◽  
Grace C. Alston ◽  
Zaneta M. Thayer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Newborn Care ◽  
Community Support ◽  
The United States ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Household Tasks

Abstract Background The early postpartum period is recognized cross-culturally as being important for recovery, with new parents receiving increased levels of community support. However, COVID-19-related lockdown measures may have disrupted these support systems, with possible implications for mental health. Here, we use a cross-sectional analysis among individuals who gave birth at different stages of the pandemic to test (i) if instrumental support access in the form of help with household tasks, newborn care, and care for older children has varied temporally across the pandemic, and (ii) whether access to these forms of instrumental support is associated with lower postpartum depression scores. Methods This study used data from the COVID-19 And Reproductive Effects (CARE) study, an online survey of pregnant persons in the United States. Participants completed postnatal surveys between April 30 – November 18, 2020 (n = 971). Logistic regression analysis tested whether birth timing during the pandemic was associated with odds of reported sustained instrumental support. Linear regression analyses assessed whether instrumental support was associated with lower depression scores as measured via the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression survey. Results Participants who gave birth later in the pandemic were more likely to report that the pandemic had not affected the help they received with household work and newborn care (p < 0.001), while access to childcare for older children appeared to vary non-linearly throughout the pandemic. Additionally, respondents who reported that the pandemic had not impacted their childcare access or help received around the house displayed significantly lower depression scores compared to participants who reported pandemic-related disruptions to these support types (p < 0.05). Conclusions The maintenance of postpartum instrumental support during the pandemic appears to be associated with better maternal mental health. Healthcare providers should therefore consider disrupted support systems as a risk factor for postpartum depression and ask patients how the pandemic has affected support access. Policymakers seeking to improve parental wellbeing should design strategies that reduce disease transmission, while facilitating safe interactions within immediate social networks (e.g., through investment in COVID-19 testing and contact tracing). Cumulatively, postpartum instrumental support represents a potential tool to protect against depression, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are Pediatric Providers On-Board With Current Recommendations Related to Maternal Mental Health Screening at Well-Child Visits in the State of Georgia?

2020 ◽  
pp. 107839032097135
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn Barrow ◽  
Analise McGreal ◽  
Dillon LiVecche ◽  
Susan Van Cleve ◽  
Chris Sikes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Pediatric Providers

BACKGROUND: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that pediatric providers screen mothers for postpartum depression at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month well-child visits. However, compliance with this recommendation varies greatly and is far from 100%. This is significant, as perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) represent the most common complication of childbearing. OBJECTIVES: This investigation was conducted to explore barriers to screening in the pediatric setting, reported advantages of screening, providers’ knowledge of mental health supports in the community, and commonly observed (and explicitly stated) mental health issues in new mothers. All data collection took place in the state of Georgia, which has the worst rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States. METHOD: A convenience sample of five pediatric practices was selected through the Mercer University School of Medicine’s community preceptor network. All clinical staff at each site participated in one of five focus groups for a total of 31 participants. The conversations were audio-taped, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Providers from two practices were formally screening for Postpartum Depression; they indicated that it added value to their practice. Those not screening cited several barriers including lack of time, training, and access to the mother’s medical records. Several clinicians asserted that they were not trained to address mental health issues in their pediatric patients’ mothers and that it was out of their realm of expertise. CONCLUSIONS: Provider compliance with the current AAP recommendations may increase with mandatory, specialized training in recognizing and treating PMADs.

Exclusive Breastfeeding Moderates the Association Between Prenatal and Postpartum Depression

2021 ◽  
pp. 089033442199105
Author(s):  
Bárbara Figueiredo ◽  
Tiago Miguel Pinto ◽  
Raquel Costa
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Prenatal Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Background Exclusive breastfeeding has a wide range of benefits for maternal health. However, the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for maternal mental health needs to be further explored. Research Aim To determine the moderating role of exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months on the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Methods This study had a prospective, longitudinal, and comparative design with two groups and three assessment waves. The sample comprised 334 participants (70 depressed and 264 non-depressed) recruited at public health services in northern Portugal. Participants completed a measure of depression symptoms between the second and the third trimester of pregnancy and between 3 and 6 months, and a measure of breastfeeding status at 3 months. Results Exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months moderated the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Participants with prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed fewer symptoms of depression and lower rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants with prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Participants without prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed similar depression symptoms and similar rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants without prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Conclusion Exclusive breastfeeding has a potential protective influence on postpartum depression among women with prenatal depression. Public health policies targeting women with prenatal depression should be implemented and include practices to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding in order to enhance women’s exclusive breastfeeding and mental health.

scholarly journals The effect of social support to postpartum depression in postpartum mother in 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessy Hertati ◽  
Evi Nurhidayati
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
The Social ◽  
One Year ◽  
Postpartum Mothers

The Effect Of Social Support To Postpartum Depression in Postpartum Mother. Post-partum mother have the potential of depression. Their new role as mother gives a higher burden on their mental health. According to the American of Pedriatrics, a retrospective study conducted by nursing found that one of seven women was hospitalized for depression during pregnancies up to one year after childbirth. The prevalence of maternal depression in 2 weeks after delivery was 80-85% and more than 8-15% will develop into postpartum depression. Pregnant mother who did not receive social support were associated with the incidence of postpartum depression with an OR of 2.12 to 3.38 as well as postpartum mothers who received less social support associated with postpartum depression with OR values of 2.06 to 9.64.The study was conducted by literature studies on 10 previous studies about social support variables and the occurrence of postpartum depression. It was found that social support is essential for post-partum mothers in order to keep their confidence to take care their babies and adapt to new things. The social supports were expected from husbands, families, health professionals and environment. Several factors such as culture, education level, demography, and birth experience have the effects on the potential of post-partum depression. Low level of social support increased maternal depression and reduce maternal mental health within four weeks after delivery. High levels of depression can lead to self-harming, acute depression symptoms such as sadness, crying, irritability, anxiety, concentration difficulty, lability of feelings and sleep and appetite disorders, even at an advanced level, it can lead to suicide. In order to minimize and overcome postpartum depression, midwives are expected to provide promotive preventive care on mental health both in prenatal and antenatal periods.

scholarly journals Comparing the Effectiveness of Clinicians and Paraprofessionals to Reduce Disparities in Perinatal Depression via the Mothers and Babies Course: Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica K Jensen ◽  
Jody D Ciolino ◽  
Alicia Diebold ◽  
Melissa Segovia ◽  
Aria Degillio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Cluster Randomized Trial ◽  
The United States ◽  
Home Visitors ◽  
Cluster Randomized

BACKGROUND Postpartum depression is highly prevalent in low-income women and has significant health and mental health effects on mother and child. Home visiting (HV) programs provide services to large numbers of perinatal women in the United States and are a logical setting for delivering mental health services. Although there are interventions that reduce the risk of developing postpartum depression among low-income women, none have used nonhealth or nonmental health professionals as interventionists. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to outline the protocol of a cluster randomized trial funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute that evaluates whether the Mothers and Babies (MB) group intervention, when led by paraprofessional home visitors, is more efficacious than usual care. It will also examine if MB, when led by home visitors, is not inferior to MB delivered by mental health professionals (MHPs). MB has previously demonstrated efficacy when delivered by MHPs, and pilot work indicated promising results using home visitors to deliver the intervention. METHODS A cluster randomized trial is being conducted with 38 HV programs. Sixteen HV programs will deliver MB using MHPs, 16 will deliver MB using paraprofessional home visitors, and 6 will deliver usual HV services. The study employs a modified covariate-constrained randomization design at the site level. We anticipate recruiting 933 women aged ≥16 years enrolled in HV programs, who are 33 or more weeks’ gestation and speak either English or Spanish. Women in the 2 intervention arms will receive the 6-session MB group intervention. Baseline, postintervention, 12-week postpartum, and 24-week postpartum assessments will be conducted to assess client outcomes. The primary outcome will be the change in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report 16 scores from baseline to 24-week follow-up. Secondary outcomes associated with core MB content will also be examined. Semistructured interviews will be conducted with home visitors and MHPs who are group facilitators and 90 study participants to gain data on intervention successes and challenges. Analyses will proceed at the participant level. Primary analyses for depressive symptoms score at 24 weeks postpartum will involve a linear mixed model, controlling for baseline symptoms and other covariates, and random effects to account for clustering. RESULTS We have recruited 838 women through the end of August 2018. Recruitment will be completed at the end of September 2018. CONCLUSIONS There is considerable potential to disseminate MB to HV programs throughout the United States. Should our results demonstrate home visitor efficacy when compared with usual care and/ noninferiority between home visitors and MHPs in improving mental health outcomes, no additional financial resources would be required for the existing HV staff to implement MB. Should this study determine that home visitors are less effective than MHPs, we will generate more wide-scale evidence on MB effectiveness when led by MHPs. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02979444; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02979444 (Archived by Webcite at http://www.webcitation.org/archive.php) INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR PRR1-10.2196/11624

scholarly journals Integrating human‐centred design into the development of an intervention to improve the mental wellbeing of young women in the perinatal period: the Catalyst project

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Taylor Salisbury ◽  
Katie H Atmore ◽  
Inocencia Nhambongo ◽  
Muanacha Mintade ◽  
Luciana Massinga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Young Mothers ◽  
Delivery Strategy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Human Centred Design

Abstract Background Mental wellbeing during pregnancy and the year after birth is critical to a range of maternal and infant outcomes. Many mental health interventions fail to incorporate stakeholder perspectives. The Catalyst Project aimed to work with key stakeholders in Mozambique to develop interventions and delivery strategies which were in-line with existing evidence and the needs, goals, and priorities of those both directly and indirectly involved in its success. Methods A qualitative, human-centred design approach was utilised. Focus-group discussions, individual interviews, and observations with young women (aged 16–24 years), their families, community leaders, service providers and government were used to better understand the needs, priorities and challenges to mental wellbeing of young women. These findings were triangulated with the literature to determine priority challenges to be addressed by an intervention. Stakeholder workshops were held to identify potential solutions and co-develop an intervention and delivery strategy. Results The 65 participants comprised 23 young pregnant women or new mothers, 12 family members, 19 service providers and 11 staff from the Ministry of Health. Participants highlighted significant uncertainty related to living situations, financial status, education, social support, and limited knowledge of what to expect of the impact of pregnancy and parenting. Family and community support were identified as an important need among this group. The Mama Felíz (Happy Mama) programme was developed with stakeholders as a course to strengthen pregnancy, childbirth and child development knowledge, and build positive relationships, problem-solving and parenting skills. In addition, family sessions address wider cultural and gender issues which impact adolescent maternal wellbeing. Conclusions We have developed an intervention to reduce the risk of poor maternal mental health and gives young mothers hope and skills to make a better life for them and their children by packaging information about the risk and protective factors for maternal mental disorders in a way that appeals to them, their families and service providers. By using human-centred design to understand the needs and priorities of young mothers and the health and community systems in which they live, the resulting intervention and delivery strategy is one that stakeholders view as appropriate and acceptable.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Postpartum Depression in A Tertiary Health Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (223) ◽  
pp. 137-140
Author(s):  
Priza Pradhananga ◽  
Prajita Mali ◽  
Lisasha Poudel ◽  
Minani Gurung
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional

Introduction: Postpartum Depression is an important public health problem in developing country like Nepal. Although prevalence of postpartum depression is high in our setting, it is most neglected area of mental health. These have negative consequences not only to mother but also to infant. Data related to postpartum depression in Nepal are limited, research in this particular field will contribute in knowing the gravity of the situation and helps to formulate the factor association to upcoming researchers. This research is done in order to find out the prevalence of postpartum depression. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, among total 348 postnatal mothers who were selected through convenient sampling technique. Validated Nepalese version of Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale was used to screen depressive symptoms. Data was collected after receiving ethical approval letter. Data entry was done using SPSS version 20. Results: Out of total mothers, the prevalence of Postpartum Depression (PPD) was seen among 51 mothers (14.7%). Conclusions: Postpartum Depression being a common yet neglected area of maternal health in Nepal, should be detected in early stage. As, the study showed that about one sixth of mothers had postpartum depression, more focus should be given to maternal mental health.  

Predicting the Sharing of Household Labor: Are Parenting and Housework Distinct?

1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masako Ishii-Kuntz ◽  
Scott Coltrane
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Maternal Employment ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
The United States ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Household Tasks ◽  
The Family ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Aged Child

Using a representative sample of married couples with preschool-aged children in the United States, this study analyzes the conditions under which husbands share household tasks conventionally performed by wives. Survey data are analyzed using LISREL VII procedures, with proportional hourly contributions to child care (feeding, bathing, dressing, or putting child to bed) and housework (housecleaning, shopping, cooking, meal cleanup or laundry) treated as conceptually distinct dependent variables. Husbands perform an average of 26 percent of the child care and 21 percent of the housework and contribute more to both child care and housework if they are employed fewer hours than their wives. For housework, couples share more if wives earn a larger share of the family income, have more education, and hold more favorable attitudes toward maternal employment. For preschool-aged child care, couples share more if they have more and older children and husbands hold more favorable attitudes toward maternal employment. Theoretical explanations for the observed findings are discussed; we advocate modeling and measuring child care and housework as distinct, but interrelated activities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document