Abstract
The framework provided by the Millennium Development Goals includes maternal health as an area of priority. Postnatal depression (PND) is a serious public health issue because it occurs at a crucial time in a mothers' life, can persist for long periods, and can have adverse effects on partners and the emotional, behavioural, and cognitive development of infants and children. Internationally, public health nurses (PHNs) are key professionals in the delivery of health care to mothers in the postpartum period, and international research collaborations are encouraged. Two researchers from the European Academy of Nursing Science (EANS) identified a need to collaborate and strengthen research capacity and discussion on postnatal depression, a public health nursing issue in both countries. Within the context of public health and public health nursing in Ireland and Norway, the aim of this paper is to present a discussion on the concept of PND, prevalence, and outcomes; screening issues for PHNs; and the research evidence of the benefits of social support in facilitating recovery for new mothers.
Highlights
The WHO-UNFPA [1] has clearly identified maternal mental health as fundamental in attaining the Millennium Development Goals
Public health nurses (PHNs) all over the world have a major role in supporting families with new born babies, and a key concern for public health nursing is the framework provided by the Millennium Development Goals which includes improving maternal health [1]
The aim of this paper is to present a discussion on the concept of Postnatal depression (PND), prevalence, and outcomes; similarities and differences in public health and public health nursing models in Ireland and Norway; research evidence on identification and screening issues for public health nurses (PHNs); and the benefits of social support in facilitating recovery for new mothers
Summary
The WHO-UNFPA [1] has clearly identified maternal mental health as fundamental in attaining the Millennium Development Goals. Detection of and intervention in postnatal depression is crucial to the well-being of mothers, their infants, partners, and families It occurs at a critical time in a mothers’ life and can persist for long periods. The authors met at an EANS conference in the summer of 2012 and identified a need to collaborate and strengthen research capacity and discussion on postnatal depression as a public health nursing issue in both countries. The aim of this paper is to present a discussion on the concept of PND, prevalence, and outcomes; similarities and differences in public health and public health nursing models in Ireland and Norway; research evidence on identification and screening issues for PHNs; and the benefits of social support in facilitating recovery for new mothers. This paper will contribute to the discourse on PND and PHNs contribution in identification and treatment in the context of primary health care internationally
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