HomeHealth Sciences Journalvol. 8 no. 1 (2019)

Mental health promotion program to enhance maternal adjustment among postpartum women

Ria Valerie D. Cabanes

 

Abstract:

Introduction A statistical extrapolation reported 126,826 cases of post partum depression in the Philippines in 2004, prompting the proposal of the Postpartum Depression Research Act of 2007. This quasi-experimental research tested the Mental Health Promotion Program for Postpartum Women. The study elaborated the link between identified high-risk mothers for postnatal mood disturbances and effect of the intervention two weeks postpartum. Methods This was conducted using Postnatal Depression Predictor Inventory Scale–Revised, administration of a two-week Mental Health Promotion Program for Postpartum Women consisting of self-mastery, social support and sleep; and evaluation of postnatal depression scores of mothers through Edinburg’s Postnatal Depression Scale two weeks after giving birth. Results Mothers who are at risk of developing postpartum mood disorders were predominant. It also discovered that majority of high-risk mothers reported depressive symptoms. There was no significant difference in the postpartum mood between the study and control groups after the Mental Health Promotion Program for Postpartum Women. The intervention was able to address three factors: blaming oneself, fear and panic without reason, and difficulty sleeping due to sadness. Conclusion There is no significant difference in the postpartum mood between the control and study group after the intervention, however, the Mental Health Promotion Program for Postpartum Women was able to successfully target three factors: blaming oneself, fear and panic without reason, and difficulty sleeping due to sadness.