University of Coimbra, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal.
General Practice Research Unit (AFE), Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Postbooks 1130 Blindern 0318, Oslo, Norway.
Midwifery. 2022 Aug;111:103365. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2022.103365. Epub 2022 May 11.
Perinatal depression is a highly prevalent mental health problem with severe consequences, which is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. Frontline health professionals directly assisting and providing regular care to women in pregnancy and postpartum period play a critical role in early detection and management of perinatal depression. Therefore, it is important to assess their knowledge and beliefs towards perinatal depression, in order to improve its recognition and management.
To synthesize the current literature about the levels of perinatal depression literacy (defined in terms of recognition and knowledge of symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options, beliefs, and attitudes) among frontline health professionals working with perinatal women.
A systematic review of the literature was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020172018). Six electronic databases were searched for eligible studies. Quantitative and qualitative studies published in English reporting findings on perinatal depression literacy among health professionals working with perinatal population were included. Pharmacists, medical or nursing students, volunteer workers, religious leaders, community leader and birth attendants were excluded from the target population. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias.
From the 3172 papers screened, a total of 43 were included. All studies were classified with strong or moderate quality. Frontline health professionals presented average levels of perinatal depression literacy. However, a lack of knowledge about the definition, prevalence, symptoms, risk factors, screening tools and treatments for perinatal depression was found in several studies, which could act as barriers to providing proper care to perinatal women. Health professionals' knowledge and attitudes seemed to differ across countries.
The findings of this systematic review highlight the need to provide health professionals with training to increase their levels of knowledge about perinatal depression and to promote more positive attitudes towards it, which can potentially increase their confidence and skills in its management and treatment.
围产期抑郁是一种高发的心理健康问题，后果严重，但仍未得到充分诊断和治疗。一线卫生专业人员直接协助和为妊娠和产后妇女提供常规护理，在早期发现和管理围产期抑郁方面发挥着关键作用。因此，评估他们对围产期抑郁的知识和信念非常重要，以提高对其的认识和管理。
综合现有文献，了解从事围产期妇女工作的一线卫生专业人员对围产期抑郁的认识和了解程度（定义为对症状、病因、危险因素和治疗选择、信念和态度的认识和了解）。
按照 PRISMA 指南进行系统文献回顾，并在 PROSPERO（CRD42020172018）中进行注册。检索了六个电子数据库，以查找符合条件的研究。纳入了以围产期人群为对象，报告卫生专业人员围产期抑郁认识水平的英文发表的定量和定性研究。目标人群排除药剂师、医学或护理学生、志愿者、宗教领袖、社区领袖和接生员。纳入的研究进行了偏倚风险评估。
从 3172 篇筛选出的论文中，共纳入 43 篇。所有研究均被归类为质量较高或中等。一线卫生专业人员的围产期抑郁认识水平处于平均水平。然而，一些研究发现，他们对围产期抑郁的定义、流行率、症状、危险因素、筛查工具和治疗方法缺乏了解，这可能成为为围产期妇女提供适当护理的障碍。卫生专业人员的知识和态度似乎因国家而异。
这项系统评价的结果强调了为卫生专业人员提供培训的必要性，以提高他们对围产期抑郁的认识水平，并促进对其更积极的态度，这可能会提高他们在管理和治疗方面的信心和技能。
