Tuyển tập các nghiên cứu khoa học của trường đại học Huế đề tài: Các yếu tố gây nguy cơ của thừa cân và béo phì trong học sinh trường tiểu học trong thành phố Huế, Việt Nam. | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE Hue University N0 61 2010 EXPLORING POSTNATAL DEPRESSION IN THUA THIEN HUE PROVINCE CENTRAL VIETNAM Linda Murray Michael Dunne Nigar Khawaja School of Public Health Queensland University of Technology QU Cao Ngoc Thanh College of Medicine and Pharmacy Hue University SUMMARY Introduction Postnatal depression PND is an important public health issue due to its impact on maternal wellbeing infant development and family cohesion. The estimated prevalence of PND during the first 12 months post-partum ranges between10-20 worldwide. Whilst PND used to be considered a syndrome only occurring in western countries there is now evidence that it occurs throughout the world and often at higher rates in low and middleincome countries. To date there has been little research into PND in South East Asia and only two community-based surveys in Vietnam one in Ho Chi Minh City in 1999 and one in Hanoi and Ha Nam in 2009. This study will investigate health worker attitudes about risk and protective factors for PND among women in Thua Thien Hue province in central Vietnam. Methodology In 2009 23 health professionals participated in qualitative exploratory research of postnatal depression in Hue. This included two focus groups with 12 health professionals who completed a concept mapping process and in-depth interviews with another 11 health professionals. Results Many factors relating to postnatal depression were identified including socio-economic status son preference mother s health infant health social support from family and the community and health promoting behaviours. In-depth interviews highlighted community knowledge and attitudes surrounding PND such as traditional confinement practices and fear of experiencing stigma. Conclusion The findings of this research will be used to plan a substantial community-based quantitative survey in order to establish prevalence of PND and surrounding social determinants in central Vietnam. 1. Introduction Postnatal depression
