The relational dimension of care for maternity blues and its relation to decompensation of a psychiatric disorder during the intermediate postpartum period in Cameroon.
In a setting such as Cameroon, where perinatal care offers few services for women with psychiatric problems during pregnancy, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period, the development of the relational dimension of care may help prevent severe psychiatric disorders . This study evaluates the role of the relational dimension of perinatal and early postpartum care (providing perinatal counseling and a space to speak) on women with blues on the intermediate-term outcomes of decompensation, in view of the importance of the emotional issues occurring in the perinatal period. Data collection used both diagnostic and clinical methods on a sample of 50 women from three hospitals in Cameroon who gave birth during the study period and agreed to participate. Of the 38 diagnosed with blues, 10 were available for observation during the intermediate post-partum: they were sorted into an experimental group that received perinatal counseling (n=5) and a control group that did not. The results suggest the importance to women with blues of a space for talking during the post-partum period. In particular, the quality of this counseling, in terms of the emotional responses of the nursing staff, determines the outcome of this management and can help to reduce the outset of depression and decompensation.
Université de Dschang/Institut de psychotraumatologie et de médiation, BP 20357, 237 Yaoundé, Province Centre, Cameroun.
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Mboua
École des sciences de la santé, université catholique d'Afrique Centrale, Yaoundé, Cameroun, Membre du Comité national éthique du Cameroun, ministère de la Santé publique, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
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Nkoum
École des sciences de la santé, université catholique d'Afrique Centrale, Yaoundé, Cameroun, Directrice du complexe hospitalier catholique de Batouri, chargé du programme santé au PBF Academy, Batouri, Cameroun.
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Abessouguié
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002163:Cameroon; D003376:Counseling; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period
caring; decompensation of blues; depression; intermediate post-partum