Postpartum Depression among Palestinian Women in the Directorate of Bethlehem

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the degree of postpartum depression

among Palestinian women under the age of (48), who gave birth at least

once, in Bethlehem Directorate. The sample of the study consists of (290)

women from different environments in Bethlehem Directorate, who gave birth

since a period ranging from two weeks to six months. The study followed the

descriptive analytical method and by the questionnaire that was built for the

purposes of the study.

The study showed that the degree of postnatal depression among the

women residing in Bethlehem Directorate was medium with (56.6%), and

that there were no statistically significant mean differences in the degree of

postnatal depression among those women depending upon the mother’s age,

educational level of either husband or wife, order of the last child, or sex

of the child. As for the place of residency, the study showed that there were

statistically significant differences in the postnatal depression degree among

the women residing in Bethlehem Directorate. Women residing in cities

were found to suffer from postnatal depression more than women residing in

villages, and women residing in villages were found to suffer more than women

residing in refugee camps. The study recommended the need to activate the

role of psychologists through consultative sessions prior to pregnancy and

childbirth for women to be prepared for these stages, and to enable them

to understand changes in their bodies as well as their psychological and

emotional conditions