gms | German Medical Science

Background: The phases of desiring to have children, pregnancy, delivery and childbed represent times of complete reorientation due to the life of (becoming) parents. Due to increased vulnerability the first year after childbirth, there is an increased risk of mental disorders. This includes postpartum depression, which can also affect fathers [1]. The prevalence of paternal depression during the first year postpartum is 8, 4%, though it is estimated that there is a huge number of unreported cases [2]. According to the definition of midwives from the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), midwives should care about women and their families and are responsible for childbed care in hospital and at home [3].

Aim/Questions: The aim of this paper is to determine the emotional impact the first year of their children`s life has on fathers. In addition, the risk factors for a paternal postpartum depression and it`s link to maternal depression in the early parenthood will be analyzed.

Methods: A systematic research of three international bibliographic online databases (PubMed, CINAHL and PsychINFO) was conducted between 01 July 2017 and 14 July 2017 to answer the research questions. Studies were evaluated and analyzed according to previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only peer reviewed studies and studies from countries with a similar social structure like Germany were included in this paper.

Results: Eleven quantitative studies were identified as relevant to this paper. Most of them were published in Europe or North America. The findings indicate that fathers experience a more stressful life in the first year postpartum than they do during their partner’s pregnancy.

Unlike maternal depression, fathers develop depression symptoms later in early parenthood. Risk factors for paternal postpartum depression include: low household income, depression in their mental-health history, smoking cigarettes during pregnancy and childbed. There is also a correlation between maternal and paternal depressive symptoms.

Conclusion/Recommendation: The problem of paternal postpartum depression was demonstrated, which indicates that there is a considerable need for further research. In Germany, there is only one care concept from the “Frühen Hilfen” for fathers during childbed.

For this reason, it is necessary to determine which professional group is responsible for the father in childbed and whether the topic should be increasingly integrated into midwives’ education [4]. In addition, it should be discussed whether a general screening for depressive symptoms should be launched.

Ethical criteria and conflict of interests: The research / project was not submitted to an ethics committee for the following reasons: systematic literature review does not require the approval of an ethics committee, adheres to ethical principles. It was financed from own resources. There is no conflict of interest.