Fighting Depression among Pregnant Women and Overcoming Gender Differences

Running head: NURSING
Fighting Depression among Pregnant Women and Overcoming Gender Differences
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2019) gender refers to socially
constructed characteristics of both the sexes, men and women. The gender characteristics like
the norms, roles and relationships differ from society to society and can be changed. These
gender roles, norms and relations have a profound influence in modulating the susceptibility
of different healthcare conditions and disease conditions and it affects the comprehensive
health and well-being. In order to conduct the study on gender differences and health, the
following paper will choose pregnant women as the main target population. The report will
initiate with the current evidence relating to level of depression among the pregnant women.
This will be followed by patterns of depression among this group and how it is linked with
the social determinants of health. At the end, the paper will highlight the health promotion
intervention that will be effective in overcoming this complex mental health outcome while
linking the intervention with the social-ecological model of public health. According to
World Health Organisation (WHO) (2018), the existence of gender differences in health and
the reasons behind the differences in a complex issue and these explanations and research are
not free from bias. The paper will try to highlight the bias nature of mental health
consequences across and how effective intervention can be prove to be effective in improving
comprehensive health and well-being.
Current evidence relating to levels of depression for pregnant women
According to the Global Burden of Disease study, depression is second leading cause
of disease burden (Ferrari et al., 2013). WHO (2012) stated that depression is a leading cause
of disability throughout the world. There is a distinct pattern of health along the gender lines
when it comes to rate of prevalence of depression. Albert (2015) reports, unipolar depression
are twice as common in women in comparison to men. Under the Australian context, it can

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be said that depression is a major public health issues and is a leading source of health-related
loss in the domain of disability-adjusted life years among the women in Australia with a
reproductive as reported in 2016 (University of Washington IHME, 2015). The maternal
depression during pregnancy in Australia is associated with adverse prenatal outcomes (Ogbo
et al. 2018). A study conducted among the women who are residing in socio-economic
disadvantaged community in South Australia highlighted that incidence of antenatal
depressive symptoms is high during the 7th month of pregnancy in comparison to women who
resides under high socio-economic status. The study thus reflected variation in the burden of
the perinatal depression among the women across different socio-economic scale. The cohort
study conducted by Ogbo et al. (2018) highlighted that pregnant women who belong to
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse community (CLAD) are socio-economically backward
are vulnerable towards getting affected with postnatal depression. Lack of support from
partner, family history of intimate partner violence is the main risk factors behind the
development of depression among pregnant woman. Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (2012) survey highlighted that one out of five mothers of children who are aged
below 24 months or less has been diagnosed with depression. At least 50% of these mothers
have reported that the depression is of perinatal origin (depression was diagnosed from
pregnancy until the birth of child). In Australia, perinatal depression is commonly reported
among the Australian mothers who were below 25 years of age, who are chain smokers and
come from lower income households. Other factors that increase the tendency of developing
depression among pregnant women of Australia include over-weight or obesity and having an
emergency caesarean section. Matud (2017) stated that women residing with the lower
income families and under poor socioeconomic status are more likely to become victims of
gender prejudice and discrimination. This increased level of stress and anxiety among them.
Moreover, women in comparison to men are victims of domestic violence that hampers the