Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence rate of postpartum depression (PPD) is 9 to 17% among mothers, with higher rates among low income and immigrant populations. Due to the negative effects of PPD symptoms on both the mother and baby, treating mothers with depression symptoms is of great importance. This study examined treatment preferences for PPD among Israeli mothers with and without PPD symptoms, specifically focusing on treatment centers, type of professional and mode of treatment, to help develop relevant policies to promote the health of mothers by reaching a deeper understanding of their preferences.Methods1000 mothers who attended Maternal Child Health Clinics (MCHCs) in Israel for their infant’s first medical exam participated in a cross-sectional survey.ResultsIn this sample, 8.4% of the participants suffered from PPD. Mothers with PPD compared to those without symptoms had lower economic status, were more likely to be single, to be first-time mothers, have an unemployed partner and to have immigrated to Israel. Mothers with PPD preferred private mental health practice and community treatment centers by mental healthcare professionals. They also preferred group interventions and personal psychotherapy rather than technology-based interventions.ConclusionsThe study findings support the formulation of mother-sensitive health policies based on understanding mothers’ preferences, and thus, help prepare treatment alternatives that will suit different groups of mothers with PPD, for the benefit of mothers, newborns, and families. Disseminating the results of this study among professionals as part of professional training, can promote appropriate treatment facilities and modes of care for mothers with PPD.
Highlights
The prevalence rate of postpartum depression (PPD) is 9 to 17% among mothers, with higher rates among low income and immigrant populations
As in other studies we showed that women with poor economic status had more PPD symptoms [4, 30] and preferred to seek treatment less frequently in general [25]
Our findings showed that women with PPD preferred group interventions and personal psychotherapy, such personal meetings and home visits compared to technology-mediated interventions
Summary
The prevalence rate of postpartum depression (PPD) is 9 to 17% among mothers, with higher rates among low income and immigrant populations. This study examined treatment preferences for PPD among Israeli mothers with and without PPD symptoms, focusing on treatment centers, type of professional and mode of treatment, to help develop relevant policies to promote the health of mothers by reaching a deeper understanding of their preferences. PPD is characterized by an inability to experience pleasure, anxiety symptoms, panic attacks, spontaneous crying, depressed mood, and sometimes accompanied by suicidal thoughts following the birth of an infant [1]. Studies have reported that untreated PPD may adversely affect infant–maternal attachment [10], the cognitive and motor development of the infant [10, 11] and was associated with behavioral and learning disorders during childhood and adolescence [12, 13].
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