DADS: Depression Among Dads: A Cross-Sectional Multicentric Study on Paternal Postpartum Depression in Pakistan
A multi-centric, cross-sectional, observational study to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with paternal post-partum depression among Pakistani men.
Background of the Study
Postpartum depression is more commonly associated with women, according to WHO postpartum depression impacts nearly 10-15% of the mothers worldwide however, its impact on fathers is still largely unexplored. Recent studies have raised awareness that paternal PPD is getting relatively common despite of it, there is a dearth of research exploring the prevalence of PPD in men. Little is known about its prevalence and impact on Pakistani men, our research aims to add to the understanding of this growing problem by exploring its prevalence, identifying the factors triggering PPD symptoms and by providing an insight into the effective treatment and preventive
measures for PPD.
Aims and Objectives
-
Determine the prevalence of postpartum depression among Pakistani men.
-
Identify the factors associated with postpartum depression in Pakistani men.
-
Explore the impact of postpartum depression on fathers' mental health, family relationships, and parenting practices.
-
Examine the cultural beliefs and attitudes that may contribute to the underestimation of postpartum depression in Pakistani men.
-
Identify the gaps in the existing literature on postpartum depression in Pakistani men and propose recommendations for future research and clinical practice.
Materials and Methods
Multi-centric, cross-sectional, observational, single-visit study design. Data collection will be done by collaborators from different centers across the country, after obtaining ethical clearance from their respective centers. Investigators from tertiary health centers who can conduct surveys in their centers can participate in the study. Each center will have a study team that will obtain local approval, identify eligible patients, and collect data. Data will be collected anonymously through a secure online platform.
Data will be collected from female health care workers of Hospitals through a
Beck’s Depression Inventory questionnaire in the local language. For those who can’t even read, one to one interviews will be conducted from them by the data collectors. ​
.png)