Knowledge and attitudes of family members towards postpartum depression

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) has been recently recognized as a public health issue. While family members play an important role in early recognition of PPD among women, research that explores family members awareness on PPD is limited from India.

Aim: To explore the knowledge and attitudes of family members towards postpartum depression.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey carried out among family members of postpartum women (N = 202) at a pediatric tertiary care center. The data was collected through face to face interview technique using a structured questionnaire.

Results: The mean scores on knowledge (18.92 ± 3.27) attitude (31.39 ± 4.91) scales suggest that a majority of the participants had a good level of knowledge (54%) and positive attitudes (69.7%) towards women with postpartum depression. However, misconceptions and negative stereotypes related to postpartum depression still prevailed. Family members who had a good level of education (χ2 = 4.21, p < 0.05) and had come across women with postpartum depression (χ2 = 13.27, p < 0.001) hold positive attitudes towards postpartum depression compared to family members with a lower level of education and those did not come across women with postpartum depression.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest the need for educational campaigns to improve perinatal mental health literacy and address prejudices and negative stereotypes related to postpartum depression among family members.

Keywords: Attitudes; Family members; India; Knowledge; Postpartum depression; Postpartum women.