Nursing and women's mental health in coping with postpartum depression

Abstract

Depression is the third leading cause of morbidity in the world, and could reach first place by 2030. Women have twice the risk of developing depression than men. Postpartum depression (PPD) is considered a public health problem, due to the influence of mother and baby, hindering healthy interaction between mother and newborn. The general objective of this literature review was to analyze the role of nursing professionals in coping with PPD. The methodology used was an integrative bibliographic review, carried out in the LILACS, BVS, SCIELO and PUBMED databases of works published in the last nine years. The descriptors that guided the research were: postpartum depression; nursing care; humanized assistance; as well as its English developers. 12 articles were found using the described method The articles showed that the main complications for mother and baby are: difficulty in self-control, in the child's interaction with society due to the form of the dyad relationship, which may develop nutritional problems, in the quality of the baby's sleep, in brain activity, in self-esteem, motor skills, language, as well as breastfeeding and has a greater chance of developing depression and anxiety in adult life. It is concluded that it is essential that nurses are able to identify the signs and symptoms of PPD early and thus provide quality care to women who have recently given birth, which always changes the quality of life of the mother and baby.