IMPACT OF INTERVENTION PROVIDED ON POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Dr. Krishnananda Kamath K., Amrutha Ajith*, Sudhamshu K. Tantry and Ramakrishna Shabaraya A.

ABSTRACT

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common potentially disabling and, in some instances life-threatening condition.[9] Postpartum depression is tractable to treatment and is readily discernible by a wide range of modalities of which EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) scale is prominently used. PPD on the whole poses abrogating impact on physical, emotional and intellectual development of the child leading to incessant complications. The study entails comparison of knowledge and attitude of mothers in their postpartum period, of 6 weeks to 12 months particularly in consideration for the current prevalence. Study that broached in Dakshina Kannada continued with adequate results for 6 months included mothers who were willing to participate, taking into consideration that their postpartum period falls within the margin imperative, mothers who were receiving mental health therapy or who withdrew their consent were excluded. Pre-validated questionnaires and in-person conversations were used to gather data, and Microsoft Excel was used for statistical analysis. Initial stages of the study elucidated poor knowledge and attitude among participants, with a small proportion manifesting considerable understanding of PPD. Further, the study embarked in dividing the participants into two groups of case and control of which the case group underwent intervention criteria using PIL and the later accordingly without interventions. The evaluation of the interventions provided commenced after a two-month period, during which subjects were analysed for improvements. Subsequently, assessing mothers’ knowledge and attitude using the same questionnaire post-intervention, it was compared with their knowledge prior to the intervention. A significant improvement in knowledge and attitude was observed among the interventional group. The analysis was conducted using SPSS 28. The study results indicated that the intervention was significantly effective in reducing PPD and enhancing knowledge and attitude regarding PPD.

Keywords: Postpartum depression (PPD), Knowledge, Attitude, Intervention, EPDS.