Viewpoint : Postpartum Depression

There were 126,826 estimated cases of postpartum depression among many Filipino women during and after childbirth in the Philippines in 2004 according to a press release report made by the Public relations and Information Department of the House of Representatives of the Philippines last May 11 of this year. However, according to Rep. Narciso D. Santiago III (Party-list, ARC), thisnumber has been heavily measured through extrapolation than an actual count. Moreover, he was moved to address the situation by filing a measure that aims to implement a nationwide research and public information campaign on postpartum depression. Dubbed as the "Postpartum Depression Act of 2008," House Bill 3643 also seeks to address the complete lack of statistics and information concerning postpartum depression. From the article about the results of the researches made by foreign nurses about postpartum depression, I would like to give emphasis on three major points stated that will aid nurses in their practice 1. confirmed risk factors for developing postpartum depression, 2. the universal nature of this mood disorder across culture, and 3. theprevalence of elevated postpartum depressive symptoms in new mothers over the first 12 months after birth. In the article, there were more than 10 risk factors that were confirmed to bring about postpartum depression and I think these would really aid nurses in determining clients who are most at risk of developing postpartum depression and thus, enabling these nurses to devise appropriate care plans for these clients. Moreover, these confirmed risk factors should also be utilized fully not only by nurses but by every health care practitioner for a more extensive and effective information campaign among families so as to prevent further cases of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can be experienced by any woman who has given birth,no matter what country she lives in, what her skin color is or what race she has.