Socio-economic barriers affecting mother’s motivations in seeking medical postpatrum depression treatment in Danao City, Philippines

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a debilitating mental condition that mothers from low socio-economic backgrounds are more susceptible to acquiring. The study examined the socio-economic barriers affecting mothers’ motivation to seek medical PPD treatment using a descriptive correlational research design. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit eighteen (18) mothers aged 20 - 39 years old who scored below 20 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The study’s findings suggested that educational attainment and health care insurance significantly correlate with mothers’ perceived barriers. Regarding their access to maternal postpartum care, age, income, educational attainment, and health care insurance directly correlate to their seeking attitude. Finally, financial and social barriers significantly impact the mothers’ access to maternal postpartum care, while geographic factors show no direct correlation. The study recommended coming up with means to alleviate economic constraints and the stigma of PPD to increase mothers’ motivations in seeking medical PPD treatment. Furthermore, the output of this study is aimed at developing an educational and livelihood program to alleviate financial and social barriers for mothers seeking PPD treatment.