Health visitors' perceptions on their role to assess and manage postpartum depression cases in the community |
| |
Authors: | Foiniki Alexandrou Evanthia Sakellari Michael Kourakos Despina Sapountzi‐Krepia |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Frederick University, Nicosia, Cyprus;2. Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece;3. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland;4. General Hospital of Athens, Asklepieio Voulas, Athens, Greece |
| |
Abstract: | The present study gives an insight into the health visitors' perceptions on their role in assessing, managing, and supporting mothers with postpartum depression (PPD). The study took place in Cyprus among health visitors of a community Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic using qualitative approach. Data were collected through individual semistructured interviews. The findings showed that although health visitors are able to identify PPD cases, they stress the importance of protocols and evidence‐based care as well as preventive interventions, and they also point out the importance of home visits. Finally, they support the need for education. It is concluded that health visitors can play an important role in women's health and their intervention on the prevention of PPD in the community especially through home visits is very important. |
| |
Keywords: | community health visitor home visit postnatal depression postpartum depression |
|
|