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Primary Prevention Essay

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Limited Primary and Secondary Prevention Strategies
Although there are valuable programs implemented to help manage and support mothers with PPD (tertiary prevention), it’s important to recognize that secondary prevention strategies currently in place are flawed and that there is no emphasis on primary prevention. VCH has implemented a PPD algorithm, where best practice is to screen for PPD using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale at 28-32 weeks of pregnancy and at 6-8 weeks postnatally (VCH, 2017). It also recommends targeted screening for any moms with risk factors (VCH, 2017). However, instead of following this algorithm, PHN’s screen for PPD during a home visit, at the CHC at the 4-month infant visit, and at parent-infant groups …show more content…

Because of this barrier, it is even more critical that we go to them, as suggested by reinstating home visits, and upstream prevention strategies are implemented. There are no prenatal groups in CHA4, yet literature suggests prenatal classes based on psychoeducation, stress management and coping mechanisms lead to decreased rates of PPD (Werner, Osborne, Kuzava & Monk, 2015). Furthermore, it is evident that PHNs do not play much of a role in prenatal care nationally. According to the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey, 0.6% of women received prenatal care from nurses (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2009). PHN’s are to protect, promote and prevent, and with such a prominent health issue that affects the community at large, it is daunting that PHN’s do not offer more anticipatory guidance to expecting mothers. It would be beneficial to incorporate prenatal classes that focus on psychoeducation and perhaps recognize that these classes should be offered in the evenings when mothers, particularly the working-class older mothers are available. Kozinszky (2012) found that four brief prenatal classes focusing on PPD prevention was all that was needed to reduce PPD symptomology.

CHA4 Is Moving in the Right Direction Recently, a health education opportunity was proposed at the service level. All CHA4 PHN’s were advised to participate in a teleconference about PPD put on by

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