Fathers also get depressed in the postpartum: understanding the phenomenon from the voice of its protagonists

Abstract

International research shows a prevalence of 10.4% of paternal postpartum depression in the general population. In Chile the phenomenon has not been studied, so we set out to explore the presence of depressive symptoms in Chilean parents during the postpartum period, as well as the particularity of this phenomenon from the subjectivity of those affected. In this exploratory, crosssectional, qualitative study, in-depth interviews were conducted with a subgroup of parents who placed themselves on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale slice score and/or the Beck Depression Inventory, looking at their meanings of parenthood and depression. Among the results, the non-planning of pregnancy in all participants stands out, as well as paternity associated with the provider role. The concept of depression is associated with its most extreme manifestations. Although the parents present subjective discomfort, they do not identify it as depressive symptomatology, thus limiting spontaneous and timely consultation.