Effectiveness of education on reducing of depression symptom level in women during postpartum period

TOP ED, KARAÇAM Z.Effectiveness of Education on Reducing of Depression Symptom Level in Women During Postpartum PeriodSUMMARYThe study was carried out semi-experimentally in the order of pretest- posttest control group in order to assess the efficiency of education in reducing the postnatal symptom level of depression in the women in postnatal period. One hundred three women were taken to the study, 52 of whom were to the intervention group and 51 of whom to the control group which were determined through no probability sampling method. Data of the study were collected via a question form, follow up form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale. The women in the study group were provided with training constructed by using training material for preventing postnatal depression development and decreasing the level of depression symptoms and they were given training material. In the study, the efficiency of the training was assessed by comparing the pretest and posttest Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale scores in the groups associated with intervention and control groups.The average age of the women included in the study were 28,22± 5,10. The women were determined to be mostly high school and college graduates (57%), have civil marriages (98,1%), be housewives (84,5%), have social securities (90,3%) and to have middle incomes (91,3%). The women included in the study in the intervention and control groups were of statistically similar characteristics in terms of socio-demographic and obstetric features, planning of pregnancy, having physical health problems in pregnancy, taking medication, smoking and drinking alcohol, having vitally important stress, child bearing, findings on babies and baby-care, their opinions on themselves and on their marriages, and their perceived social support scores.Although the women in the study and control groups were of statistically similar characteristics in terms of being under the risk of high depression in the pre-training period (intervention: 17,3%; control 11,8%), the difference between the groups was determined to be significant from the viewpoint of Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale Score medians (intervention: 8,0±4,8; control 6,0±6,0; p=0,010).After the training, it was determined that the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale score medians (intervention: 4,0±3,0; control: 10,0±4,0), the incidence of postnatal depression (intervention: 7,7%; control: 25,5%), and pretest-posttest medians in the associated groups (intervention: 4,0±3,0; control: 10,0±4,0) were lower than those of the women in control group and this difference was statistically significant.In the study it was concluded that the structure training given to the postnatal women were effective in preventing and reducing postnatal depression symptoms. Reduction of depression symptoms and thus the improvement of child, family and society health besides women health can be contributed by the fact that this training method are used and generalized by nurses/midwives and other health care personnel who conduct postnatal care services.Key words: Postpartum period, depression, symptoms, education, nursing care, nursing.