Knowledge and Practices of Primary Health Care Professionals on Maternal Blues

In this study, determining the knowledge and practices of primary health care professionals regarding maternity blues was aimed. The descriptive study was conducted in the Family Health and Community Health Centers in the city center of Manisa together with health care professionals (N:252). The entire relevant population was tried to be reached without using any sample selection method (n:214). The data of the study were collected with a questionnaire form prepared by the researchers in accordance with the relevant literature. Informative questions were evaluated indefinitely by giving correct answers for one score out of the total knowledge score (32 points in total). The average age of the health care professionals included in the survey was 40.22 ± 8.99. Of the research group, 41.1% was the doctors, and 48.9% was other health care professionals. When the knowledge of the health care professionals about the maternity blues is investigated, 30.4% stated they have never heard maternity blues before, and 41.6% stated not to have received any knowledge about this issue up to date. The mean scores of health care professionals regarding knowledge in maternity blues were 16.85 ± 6.65 (p < 0.05). Maternity blues isn't known by almost half of midwives and nurses. Awareness of health care professionals should be increased by providing in-service training and vocational training on this subject.