RCSI. Ireland: Postnatal depression in fathers and community-based nursing cancer care are among the topics being explored at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference. Mr. Philpott will discuss the results of a study co-authored by Dr.
Paul Corcoran which involved 100 fathers from the south of Ireland,18
years or older with a child less than 12 months old.
12 percent were
found to have symptoms of paternal postnatal depression. The factors
found to increase the risk of paternal postnatal depression included; a
lower level of education, having an infant with sleep problems, having a
pre-term or overdue infant, a history of depression, lack of support
from a partner, living in rented accommodation, poor economic
circumstances, not having paternity leave and not being married. The
study illustrates that paternal postnatal depression is a real and
significant public health issue that is presently underscreened,
underdiagnosed and undertreated.