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``It's about focusing on the mother's mental health'': Screening for postnatal depression seen from the health visitors' perspective — a qualitative study

Research Unit, Sorlandet Hospital HF, Kristiansand, Norway, kari.vik{at}sshf.no

Inger Margrete Aass

Vågsbygd Health Centre, Kristiansand, Norway

Anne Britt Willumsen

Vågsbygd Family Centre, Kristiansand, Norway

Marit Hafting

Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University of Bergen, Norway

Aims: This study examines experiences from the implementation of EPDS as a routine screening for postnatal depression in a health centre seen from health visitors' perspective. Methods: A qualitative approach was chosen to shed light on this issue. Six experienced health visitors and one midwife participated in a focus group interview sharing their experiences and expectations. Results: The analysis indicate that the EPDS screening turned out to be a useful tool for the health visitors to adress mental health issues in health promotion and preventive work with mothers and newborns. The EPDS screening shifted the focus in the consultation from the child solely to also encompass the mother and the relation between them. A precondition for this was that the implementation process was gradual and on the health visitors own terms, likewise that there was a follow-up chain including supervision given to the health visitors, in order to provide help for the mothers who need more help than the health centre can offer. Conclusions: Our study shows that acceptability for routine screening with EPDS amongst health visitors is possible to achieve.

Key Words: Depressive symptoms • Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale • health visitors • postnatal depression • primary health care • routine screening • qualitative method

This version was published on May 1, 2009

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 37, No. 3, 239-245 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1403494808100275


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