Postnatal depression across cultures: a qualitative study in Malaysia
Background: Postnatal depression (PND) is one of the most common maternal mental health problems for women worldwide. Yet the wide range of reported rates of PND in different countries raises questions about how PND is experienced by women in different cultures and whether interventions developed in...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2015
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/53594/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/53594/1/siti_NMAHP%20CONFERENCE_18062015_IREP.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/53594/7/Unit%20meeting%2017th%20June%202015%20Mini%20Conf%20FINAL%20%281%29.pdf |
| Summary: | Background: Postnatal depression (PND) is one of the most common maternal mental health problems for women worldwide. Yet the wide range of reported rates of PND in different countries raises questions about how PND is experienced by women in different cultures and whether interventions developed in western cultures are appropriate in very different settings. It is important to establish how PND is defined, experienced and managed in different cultures in order to create culturally relevant interventions. yet there was no research have been published up to this date. No previous studies of women’s experience of PND and its management have been conducted in Malaysia.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore women’s experiences and perspectives of PND in a multicultural country, Malaysia.
Method: This study employs an exploratory qualitative design. The critical realism is considered as the philosophical framework underpinning the study. A total of 33 women with different Malaysian cultural backgrounds who attend for postnatal care and/or child immunization at eight selected Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Clinics in Kuala Lumpur were recruited. The women were screened for postnatal depressive symptoms using The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Those who score three or more in PHQ-2 and/or 12 or more in EPDS have been invited for the interview session. The face to face semi structured interviews have been used to explore the women’s perspectives of PND. Data collection and data analysis were conducted concurrently. Data will be analysed using deductive thematic analysis (framework method). Nvivo, a software package will be used to develop coding on each transcript.
Conclusion: This study will add on the theoretical concepts of PND and its relation to cultural background through understanding and exploration of PND experience from Malaysian perspectives. It will also encourage further high quality work to provide effective, relevant and culturally sensitive intervention for PND. The findings of this study will be the foundation of developing preventative intervention for PND in Malaysia. |
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