Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing
Critical CommentaryBarriers to Help-Seeking Behavior Among Women With Postpartum Depression
Section snippets
Overview of PPD
One of three postpartum mood disorders (see Table 1), PPD typically begins within 2 weeks after childbirth but can occur anytime in the first postpartum year. Signs and symptoms of PPD may include persistent sadness, guilt, insomnia, anxiety, and thoughts of infant harm and self-harm (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2016, Drake et al., 2014). Treatment is vital for PPD because symptoms can last for years after childbirth if untreated (Foulkes, 2011). It is important to
Health Belief Model
The health belief model (HBM) can be applied to enhance understanding of the relationships among the following concepts for women with PPD: sociodemographic factors, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers. This model has been used to explain individual behavior in response to a specific threat of an illness or disease (Rosenstock, 1974). The HBM serves as a framework with which to describe the potential willingness of women to seek psychological
Implications for Health Care
It is estimated that approximately 900,000 women experience symptoms of PPD each year (Postpartum Progress, 2016). Only 50,000 of these women actually seek psychological help. That leaves 850,000 women each year who endure symptoms of PPD without treatment (Postpartum Progress, 2016). Not only does this lack of treatment negatively affect women, but this also means that at least 850,000 children each year are at risk to develop lifelong deficits as a result of untreated PPD. Now is clearly the
Conclusion
Multiple barriers exist that prevent mothers from seeking psychological help for the treatment of PPD. The timely treatment of PPD has been found to enhance both maternal and infant outcomes (Foulkes, 2011, Murray et al., 2014). In addition to implementing new guidelines to address health care system–level barriers, there is an urgent need to develop and implement interventions that address the lack of knowledge and perceived stigma associated with the lack of help-seeking behavior among women
Brittany G. Grissette, MSN, RN, is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA.
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Cited by (0)
Brittany G. Grissette, MSN, RN, is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA.
Regena Spratling, PhD, RN, APRN, CPNP, is an associate professor and Director of the PhD in nursing program, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
Dawn M. Aycock, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAHA, is an associate professor in the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
The authors report no conflict of interest or relevant financial relationships.