Paternal Depression Rates in Prenatal and Postpartum Periods and Affecting Factors

The objective of this study was to determine the paternal depression rates and affecting factors in prenatal and postpartum periods. The study, which was descriptive and cross-sectional, was conducted with 92 volunteer couples that suited the criteria for the sample. These participants were selected from couples that applied to the gynecology clinic of a private hospital between September 2014 and April 2015 and who were in their 37th-40th weeks of pregnancy. Data collection was planned in two interviews; the first one was done between the 37th and 40th weeks of the pregnancy, and the second was conducted between the 4th and 6th weeks after the birth. Interviews were completed with 84 couples. In this study, it was determined that there was no relationship between average paternal and maternal scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in prenatal and postpartum periods. It was found that the average score of the Family-Work Conflict Scale increased and couples' marriage harmony decreased as the EPDS average score for fathers increased. In addition, it was found that the EPDS average score for fathers that wanted the pregnancy was less compared to fathers that did not want the pregnancy, and the difference between the two groups was statistically meaningful.