Influence of health education by contracted family doctor service on postpartum depression, social function, and coping way

Abstract

Objective To explore the impact of health education by contracted family doctor service on postpartum depression, social support, and coping way. Methods 246 puerperae delivered at People's Hospital of Yantian District were selected, and were intervened by nursing care of contracted family doctor service mode. One week after delivery, self-edited general information questionnaire, Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to evaluated the women. Their psychological state, social support, and coping method were estimated by the above scales after 3 months’ intervention. Results Low education level, poor sleep quality, bad conjugal relation, history of abnormal pregnancy, unhealthy conditions of newborn, low household income, and artificial feeding were the risk factors of postpartum depression (all P<0.05). The SDS score negatively correlated with the total or factor scores of social support and with positive coping method, and positively with SAS score and negative coping method. After 3 months’ health education by contracted family doctor service, the scores of maternal anxiety, depression, social support, and coping method were significantly improved (all P<0.05). Conclusion Health education by contracted family doctor service can significantly improve maternal depression and enhance maternal social function. Key words: Contracted family doctor; Postpartum depression; Health education; Social support; Coping method