TY - JOUR KW - Adult KW - Child KW - Delivery of Health Care KW - Depressive Disorder/diagnosis/psychology KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Mothers/psychology KW - Nurses, Community Health KW - Pediatrics KW - Primary Health Care/methods KW - Qualitative Research KW - Referral and Consultation KW - Social Stigma AU - E. Agapidaki AU - K. Souliotis AU - S. F. Jackson AU - V. Benetou AU - S. Christogiorgos AU - C. Dimitrakaki AU - Y. Tountas A1 - AB - BACKGROUND: The present study's aim has been to investigate, identify and interpret the views of pediatric primary healthcare providers on the recognition and management of maternal depression in the context of a weak primary healthcare system. METHODS: Twenty six pediatricians and health visitors were selected by using purposive sampling. Face to face in-depth interviews of approximately 45 minutes duration were conducted. The data were analyzed by using the framework analysis approach which includes five main steps: familiarization, identifying a thematic framework, indexing, charting, mapping and interpretation. RESULTS: Fear of stigmatization came across as a key barrier for detection and management of maternal depression. Pediatric primary health care providers linked their hesitation to start a conversation about depression with stigma. They highlighted that mothers were not receptive to discussing depression and accepting a referral. It was also revealed that the fragmented primary health care system and the lack of collaboration between health and mental health services have resulted in an unfavorable situation towards maternal mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Even though pediatricians and health visitors are aware about maternal depression and the importance of maternal mental health, however they fail to implement detection and management practices successfully. The inefficiently decentralized psychiatric services but also stigmatization and misconceptions about maternal depression have impeded the integration of maternal mental health into primary care and prevent pediatric primary health care providers from implementing detection and management practices. BT - BMC psychiatry C5 - Healthcare Disparities CY - England DO - 10.1186/1471-244X-14-108 JF - BMC psychiatry N2 - BACKGROUND: The present study's aim has been to investigate, identify and interpret the views of pediatric primary healthcare providers on the recognition and management of maternal depression in the context of a weak primary healthcare system. METHODS: Twenty six pediatricians and health visitors were selected by using purposive sampling. Face to face in-depth interviews of approximately 45 minutes duration were conducted. The data were analyzed by using the framework analysis approach which includes five main steps: familiarization, identifying a thematic framework, indexing, charting, mapping and interpretation. RESULTS: Fear of stigmatization came across as a key barrier for detection and management of maternal depression. Pediatric primary health care providers linked their hesitation to start a conversation about depression with stigma. They highlighted that mothers were not receptive to discussing depression and accepting a referral. It was also revealed that the fragmented primary health care system and the lack of collaboration between health and mental health services have resulted in an unfavorable situation towards maternal mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Even though pediatricians and health visitors are aware about maternal depression and the importance of maternal mental health, however they fail to implement detection and management practices successfully. The inefficiently decentralized psychiatric services but also stigmatization and misconceptions about maternal depression have impeded the integration of maternal mental health into primary care and prevent pediatric primary health care providers from implementing detection and management practices. PP - England PY - 2014 SN - 1471-244X; 1471-244X SP - 108 T1 - Pediatricians' and health visitors' views towards detection and management of maternal depression in the context of a weak primary health care system: a qualitative study T2 - BMC psychiatry TI - Pediatricians' and health visitors' views towards detection and management of maternal depression in the context of a weak primary health care system: a qualitative study U1 - Healthcare Disparities U2 - 24725738 U3 - 10.1186/1471-244X-14-108 VL - 14 VO - 1471-244X; 1471-244X Y1 - 2014 ER -