Michelle Foulkes1. 1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada. mfoulkes@cheo.on.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the barriers and enablers identified by women experiencing a postpartum mood disorder (PPMD) that preclude and facilitate their help-seeking behaviors for this often devastating illness. DESIGN: A qualitative study using a grounded theory approach. SETTING: Well-Baby Clinics offered through the Public Health Department, Early Years Centres, Mothercraft, and a Parent Resource Centre in a large Canadian city. PARTICIPANTS: Ten women who had either been formally diagnosed as having a PPMD or who self-identified as experiencing a constellation of symptoms indicative of a PPMD. METHODS: Interviews that were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a grounded theory approach as described by Strauss and Corbin. RESULTS: The core category of "having postpartum" captured the essence of women's experiences in seeking help for a PPMD. Women identified four main stressors that contributed to their development of a PPMD, two barrier categories, and an enabler category that influenced their help-seeking behaviors. Through navigation of formal and informal help, women were able to begin to reclaim the mothering instincts they had lost to mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy, birth, and becoming a mother collectively represent a critical period of physical and emotional upheaval in a woman's life. The need for a holistic care approach that supports the emotional and physical health of the dyad is imperative.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the barriers and enablers identified by women experiencing a postpartum mood disorder (PPMD) that preclude and facilitate their help-seeking behaviors for this often devastating illness. DESIGN: A qualitative study using a grounded theory approach. SETTING: Well-Baby Clinics offered through the Public Health Department, Early Years Centres, Mothercraft, and a Parent Resource Centre in a large Canadian city. PARTICIPANTS: Ten women who had either been formally diagnosed as having a PPMD or who self-identified as experiencing a constellation of symptoms indicative of a PPMD. METHODS: Interviews that were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a grounded theory approach as described by Strauss and Corbin. RESULTS: The core category of "having postpartum" captured the essence of women's experiences in seeking help for a PPMD. Women identified four main stressors that contributed to their development of a PPMD, two barrier categories, and an enabler category that influenced their help-seeking behaviors. Through navigation of formal and informal help, women were able to begin to reclaim the mothering instincts they had lost to mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy, birth, and becoming a mother collectively represent a critical period of physical and emotional upheaval in a woman's life. The need for a holistic care approach that supports the emotional and physical health of the dyad is imperative.
Authors: Sarah Lederberg Stone; Hafsatou Diop; Eugene Declercq; Howard J Cabral; Matthew P Fox; Lauren A Wise Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2015-03-09 Impact factor: 2.681