Eighth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication of childbearing that can lead to adverse long-term effects if untreated. Yet, many mothers with PPD may opt for no treatment, partly from a fear of being stigmatized. The current study focused on the Mom to Mom (M2M) program operating in the southern region of Israel, designed to help new mothers cope with the first year of parenting through home visits of volunteer mothers. The study aimed to evaluate Mothers’ motivations for joining M2M; Gains from participation; and The effect of participation on PPD symptoms. This is the first study in Israel that examines the effectiveness of M2M using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Two major reasons for participation in M2M were being an immigrant and having low income. The greatest gains from home visits were increased self-confidence, improved parenting skills and communication with the partner. An important finding is that mothers joining the program have much higher rates of detected PPD symptoms (38.7%) compared to other Israeli studies. This suggests that M2M attracts mothers who would otherwise not be getting treatment for PPD, possibly due to the lack of stigma. Seventy-nine percent of mothers with PPD symptoms were functioning well after a year from joining the program. Further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of this program in reducing PPD symptoms among mothers in additional countries.