New Voices in Psychology

Implementing Guidelines to Manage Perinatal Depression: Exploration of the Healthcare Provider’s Perceptions

Saara Hatupopi — 2024-04-24

Perinatal mental health guidelines are still lacking in more than 80% of low- and middle-income countries. World Health Organization has outlined the importance of an evidence-informed approach for developing and sustaining high-quality integrated mental health services for women during the perinatal period.

Method: The study explored healthcare providers' perceptions of implementing guidelines to manage perinatal depression in primary healthcare settings in Namibia. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was applied to collect data from a purposively selected sample of 12 healthcare providers. This involved two focus groups with healthcare providers. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts was conducted simultaneously with data collection.

Findings: The study highlighted three major themes for successfully implementing the guidelines to manage perinatal depression: the significance of implementing the guidelines, integration of the guidelines into perinatal care settings, and barriers to implementing the guidelines.

Conclusion: Healthcare providers were aware of poor maternal mental health provision within perinatal care settings and were ready to implement the guidelines to manage perinatal depression. Professional training and continuous education on perinatal depression are fundamental components in fostering quality of care and community awareness, as well as improving stigma within the community and healthcare providers.

Psycho-Social Factors Influencing Exclusive Breastfeeding Among the Primigravida Mothers at a Public Hospital in the uGu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Jessica Naicker — 2024-06-26

Primigravidae, first-time mothers are generally inexperienced at motherhood, which affects breastfeeding initiation and intent. Therefore, they need frequent professional and social support that must be clinical and practical for successful exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) outcomes. The study aimed to qualitatively explore the psychosocial factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding among primigravida mothers at a public hospital in the uGu District, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. A qualitative phenomenological and explorative research methodology was used to conduct the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 purposive sampled primigravida mothers from the postpartum ward from day one today to four post-delivery. Data was collected until saturation was reached. Based on Bandura's Self-Efficacy and Social Cognitive Theoretical Framework, the study has shown that personal, social, and environmental factors strongly influence maternal attitudes toward breastfeeding efficacy. Five significant themes that emerged from the data analysis were (a) factors influencing maternal self-efficacy, (b) challenges to EBF, (c) cultural influence on EBF, (d) the role of support systems to EBF, and (e) breastfeeding support strategies. The study showed that stakeholders need to apply critical clinical interventions if South Africa reaches the global nutritional target of 50% EBF by 2025. These include healthcare workers (HCWs), Policymakers, Employers, the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Labour, and the Department of Social Services. Access to child support grants, social services, ARVs through mobile clinic services, and frequent face-to-face antenatal care were among the study's recommendations to address doubts, fears, and anxieties around EBF intent, practice, and duration.

The Influence of Culture and Religion in Coping with a Mental Illness by the Residents of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Odwa Sikrweqe — 2024-04-04

Culture and Religion are significant constructs in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness, and acknowledging culture and religion is thus essential to effectively engage with all people seeking mental healthcare. This study sought to explore the role of culture and religion in coping with mental illness among people of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The study employed a quantitative exploratory-descriptive approach, with 101 participants taking an online questionnaire as a convenience sample. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings suggested that there is a link between religion/culture and how people cope with mental illnesses. The study's findings highlight the importance of public education initiatives that recognise and appreciate people's cultural variety and collaboration between traditional and medical experts.

Analysis of Sleep Quality and Positive and Negative Emotions among Trainee Nursing Students

Liu Xiao — 2024-04-30

Objective: To investigate the current situation of sleep quality and may analyse the correlation between sleep quality and positive and negative emotions. Methods Using the convenient sampling method, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality (PSQI) scale and the positive and negative emotion scale, we selected the nursing students who worked in a Grade A hospital in Beijing from July 2022 to January 2023. Results PSQI score (8.63 ± 4.06), factors score subjective sleep quality (1.49 ± 0.99), time to sleep (1.54 ± 0.9), sleep time (1.23 ± 0.93), sleep efficiency (1.27 ± 1.07), sleep disorder (1.02 ± 0.7), hypno-drugs (0.37 ± 0.81), daytime dysfunction (1.44 ± 0.8). Positive emotions (26.8 ± 5.61) and negative emotions (27.4 ± 2.74), Pearson correlation analysis found that except for "sleep time", positive emotions of trainee nursing students showed a significantly negative correlation with PSQI total score, subjective sleep quality, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorder, hypnotic medication, and daytime dysfunction; negative emotions positively correlated with seven factors and total PSQI score. Conclusion The sleep quality of nursing students is generally poor. Expressing positive emotions is conducive to improving the sleep quality of nursing students, and negative emotions reduce the sleep quality of nursing students.

Current Situation of Mental Health of Older Adults: A Case from Henan Province, China

Xin Li — 2024-04-16

Background: The population ageing process has changed the world’s population composition. China's population is ageing rapidly, and many researchers have focused on the psychological problems of older adults.

Objective: To investigate the current state of mental health of older adults in China, understand the current level of mental health of older adults in China and its influencing factors, provide a reference for the formulation of mental health intervention measures, and scientifically protect the mental health of older adults.

Methods: Convenience sampling was used to select 196 older people aged 60 and above in the Central Plains of China as the research objects. The questionnaire survey method was used to investigate the mental health status of older adults.

Results: Among the 196 older people, 145 had no psychological symptoms, accounting for 74.0%; 45 had mild psychological symptoms, accounting for 23.0%; 4 had moderate psychological symptoms, accounting for 2.0%; 2 had severe psychological symptoms, accounting for 1.0%. There were statistically significant differences in the mental health scores among older adults with different ages, marital statuses, number of chronic diseases, and economic income (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The mental health status of older adults in China is average. Age, marital status, number of chronic diseases, and income level impact the mental health of older adults. The whole society should pay attention to the mental health ofolder adults.

Nausea, by Jean-Paul Sartre - A Short Psychological Review of the Book

Sibani Londa Zungu — 2024-02-09

Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre is a philosophical novel that explores daily life through the lens of existentialism. The story follows a broken man named Antoine Roquentin, a historian afraid of his existence living in a French seaport town, as he grapples with feelings of alienation and the meaninglessness of human existence.