Nursing strategies for the prevention of postpartum depression

Abstract

Objective: The study’s main purpose has been to identify the strategies used by the registered nurses for the prevention of postpartum depression. Methods: It is an integrative literature review that was performed in the following databases of the Virtual Health Library: the Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) [Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences], Base de Dados de Enfermagem (BDENF) (Nursing Database) using the descriptors: “depressão pós-parto” and “enfermagem”; and in the database named Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), through the following descriptors: “depression postpartum” and “nursing”. Results: The sample consisted of nine studies. The categorization of each work was performed according to their similarities; accordingly, two categories were created for data analysis: User embracement as a strategy for the prevention of postpartum depression; and, The group of pregnant women as an experience-sharing space. Conclusion: Preventing postpartum depression is an easy-to-approach action, with low cost and feasible execution during nurses’ professional practice.