Preventing the postpartum depression in Family Health Strategy: nurses’ actions in the prenatal

Abstract

This study has the following aims: to understand the actions of nurses in prenatal family health strategy (FHS) in preventing postpartum depression (PPD). This is a descriptive exploratory and qualitative study. It includes 18 nurses working in the FHS prenatal in Natal/RN. The data was collected in July 2008 using semi-structured interview. It was used the content analysis technique of the thematic analysis modality. As a result, the reports describe difficulties concerning the nurse acting in the prenatal to prevent PPD not concerning the FHS itself but the way the prenatal consultations are conducted, which make it difficult for the whole approach of the pregnant. It was concluded that the nursing interventions performed during prenatal care may promote the general welfare of women, the unborn child and the family, contributing to the prevention of DPP.