More than one third of all mums who suffer depression in the first year after giving birth are being abused by their partners, a study shows.
A survey of 1300 first-time mums in Melbourne found 16 per cent reported symptoms of depression before their baby turned one.
Of those, about 40 per cent were also physically or emotionally abused by their husband or boyfriend.
Associate professor Stephanie Brown, a co-author of the study by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, said while mums had been successfully encouraged over the years to report postnatal depression, partner violence remained a taboo topic.
"It tends to be a hidden thing because the year after birth is when there's lots of pressure on families and it's difficult for women to discuss abuse with their friends, families and health professionals because it's meant to be a time of joy," she said.
"But the results from the study are sending a message that it's important for GPs and other health service workers to encourage women to seek help when they are feeling depressed or when they are being physically or emotionally abused because all these issues are common in the year after childbirth."
Emotional abuse was more common than physical abuse among the mums with postnatal depression.
Mums were also more likely to report symptoms of depression after their baby reached six months of age.
Assoc Prof Brown said that finding suggested most depressed mums could miss out on treatment because current guidelines suggest women be screened for postnatal depression in the first three months after giving birth.
"We would recommend that GPs regularly inquire about women's emotional wellbeing and issues in their relationships with their partner rather than just limiting that discussion to the first consultation or those soon after the birth," she said.
"The emotional wellbeing of the mum and her physical wellbeing does have an impact on the health of the child and that's one reason why we need to be concerned to enable women to get appropriate support."
The study, published in BJOG - An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found women most at risk of partner violence were likely to have a history of depression, relationship problems, be aged 18-24 or over 35, and single.
Separate US studies have found that physical and emotional violence in a relationship tends to escalate in the year after a child is born.
Source http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/8385907/depressed-mums-at-risk-of-abuse-study
A survey of 1300 first-time mums in Melbourne found 16 per cent reported symptoms of depression before their baby turned one.
Of those, about 40 per cent were also physically or emotionally abused by their husband or boyfriend.
Associate professor Stephanie Brown, a co-author of the study by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, said while mums had been successfully encouraged over the years to report postnatal depression, partner violence remained a taboo topic.
"It tends to be a hidden thing because the year after birth is when there's lots of pressure on families and it's difficult for women to discuss abuse with their friends, families and health professionals because it's meant to be a time of joy," she said.
"But the results from the study are sending a message that it's important for GPs and other health service workers to encourage women to seek help when they are feeling depressed or when they are being physically or emotionally abused because all these issues are common in the year after childbirth."
Emotional abuse was more common than physical abuse among the mums with postnatal depression.
Mums were also more likely to report symptoms of depression after their baby reached six months of age.
Assoc Prof Brown said that finding suggested most depressed mums could miss out on treatment because current guidelines suggest women be screened for postnatal depression in the first three months after giving birth.
"We would recommend that GPs regularly inquire about women's emotional wellbeing and issues in their relationships with their partner rather than just limiting that discussion to the first consultation or those soon after the birth," she said.
"The emotional wellbeing of the mum and her physical wellbeing does have an impact on the health of the child and that's one reason why we need to be concerned to enable women to get appropriate support."
The study, published in BJOG - An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found women most at risk of partner violence were likely to have a history of depression, relationship problems, be aged 18-24 or over 35, and single.
Separate US studies have found that physical and emotional violence in a relationship tends to escalate in the year after a child is born.
Source http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/8385907/depressed-mums-at-risk-of-abuse-study
