Highlights
- •The prevalence of paternal depressive symptoms did not increase significantly during the first three days postpartum.
- •Fathers' age and average sleep time per night are positively correlated with the paternal depressive symptoms.
- •Fathers' educational level, planned pregnancy, parity, and self-efficacy may protect fathers from depressive symptoms.
- •Supporting fathers with regular health consultations is necessary to manage postpartum depression.
Abstract
Aim
To evaluate the prevalence of paternal depressive symptoms during the first three
days of childbirth, as well as the associated factors, following the implementation
of the two-child policy in China in 2015, which allows couples to have two children
in the Chinese mainland.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 318 fathers. Paternal depressive symptoms
and self-efficacy of fathers were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression
Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale, respectively. In addition, basic information
of all parents and neonates was collected. Univariate analysis, binary logistic regression
analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to identify the relationship
between paternal depressive symptoms and its associated factors.
Results
Twenty-two percentage of fathers had depressive symptoms during the first three days
of childbirth. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that older fathers, those
who slept for more than 8 h per night, or were dissatisfied with their living conditions
were more susceptible to developing the symptoms. On the contrary, protective factors
such as the educational level of fathers, planned pregnancy, prenatal guidance, having
the second-born child, and higher self-efficacy were found to reduce the development
of paternal depressive symptoms. PCA showed that the main components that influenced
the paternal depressive symptoms were parental age and parity.
Conclusions
The prevalence of paternal depressive symptoms during the postpartum period did not
increase significantly after the implementation of the two-child policy in China.
However, focusing on the associated factors is necessary in order to manage postpartum
depression during the early postpartum period.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 10, 2020
Accepted:
February 8,
2020
Received in revised form:
January 15,
2020
Received:
July 18,
2019
Identification
Copyright
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