2023-05-31 20:30:29
Postpartum depression is recognized worldwide as an important public health problem, due to its frequency and negative consequences on the health and well-being of infants and mothers.
Studies on this disorder began three decades ago and research has been increasing exponentially, especially in the developed countries. Likewise, many countries have included, within their health policies, mental health care for mothers during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Postpartum depression is more common in women than in men
It has been recognized that between 13 and 15% of mothers suffer from postpartum depression. In Mexico, as in most countries, it is more frequent in women (10.4%) than in men (5.4%) and, above all, this gap is much wider in the reproductive period.
In the country, from 2001 to date, eight studies have come to address the problem, all in urban population. Depression in pregnancy was estimated between 9% and 14% (by clinical interview) and 6.4% to 30.7% (by self-report). The differences in the prevalences between these studies may be due to the use of different measurement instruments, the age of the interviewees and the stage of the perinatal period in which the assessment is made.
Systematic screening is the first step to take
On the other hand, the gender condition of women in relation to perinatal depression has been studied in terms of the degree of attachment to the traditional feminine role. A cross-cultural study, including Mexico, found that adopting a less traditional role (ie, having work experience, older age of marriage, contraceptive use, higher level of schooling, etc.) was associated with a reduction in the difference in depression between men and women.
What is clear is that a first step to address depression is its systematic detection, which is recommended to the extent that actions are planned to respond to the population that is diagnosed, either by health personnel in the same services or through referral to specialized consultation.
#panorama #postpartum #depression #Mexico