درجة اكتئاب ما بعد الولادة لدى النساء الفلسطينيات في محافظة بيت لحم

Abstract EN

The aim of this study is to investigate the degree of postnatal depression among Palestinian women under the age of (48), who gave birth at least once, in Bethlehem Directorate.

The sample of the study consists of (290) women from different environments in Bethlehem Directorate, who gave birth since a period ranging from two weeks to six months.

The study followed the descriptive analytical method and by the questionnaire that was built for the purposes of the study.

The study showed that the degree of postnatal depression among the women residing in Bethlehem Directorate was medium with (56.6 %), and that there were no statistically significant mean differences in the degree of postnatal depression among those women depending upon the mother’s age, educational level of either husband or wife, order of the last child, or sex of the child.

As for the place of residency, the study showed that there were statistically significant differences in the postnatal depression degree among the women residing in Bethlehem Directorate.

Women residing in cities were found to suffer from postnatal depression more than women residing in villages, and women residing in villages were found to suffer more than women residing in refugee camps.

The study recommended the need to activate the role of psychologists through consultative sessions prior to pregnancy and childbirth for women to be prepared for these stages, and to enable them to understand changes in their bodies as well as their psychological and emotional conditions.