Hypothetical study to Paternal Postpartum depression
Introduction
Alden, Lowdermilk, Cashion and Perry (2014) define Paternal Postpartum Depression as a medical problem afflicting families i.e. fathers and mothers after childbirth. It is a clinical depression condition affecting both males and females. According to Demontigny, Girard, Lacharite, Dubeau & Devault (2013)the health condition have signs such as sadness, sleeping patterns change, reduced libido as well as frequent irritability. The postpartum depression have a couple of risk factors contributing to the condition for example sudden hormonal change (Demontigny et al., 2013). The condition brings about emotional effects such as parenthood anxiety, identity crisis as well as loss of control over one’s life. Statistics show that in females, approximately 0.5% to 60% experience the condition. A growing body of research shows that postnatal depression affects fathers more, estimated to be between 1% and 25.5%.
Research regarding the postpartum depression will add to the knowledge that the undertakings reaffirm result of the previous activity, offer backup to paradigms and help solve new or existing problems regarding the postpartum depression health condition. Weller and Romney (2008)explain that Postpartum Depression serves as one of the most probable health concern after birth. The condition is prevalent in men as well as in mothers leading to serious mother baby outcomes. Vogt (2010) perceptively asserts that biological, psychological as well as social cultural factors cause the mental disorder. Weller and Romney (2008) observe that the condition may persist leading to postpartum complications that may prompt treatment by recognized health professionals. The health condition may have severe effects on mother baby bonding, consequently affecting infant care, growth, development as well as maternal and family health(Weller &Romney, 2008).In light of the highlighted issues, any research has to undertake a series of stages that include data collection, sampling and analysis to reach an informed ending (Alden, Lowdermilk, Cashion and Perry, 2014). The academic research world demands that researchers have to consider several ethical issues during and after research undertaking. Ethical issues include for example seeking a respondent's consent as well as maintaining confidentiality. The essay will address issues of sampling, strategies enacted for data collection, data analysis as well as ethical issues in the field of research in relation to postpartum depression.
Discussion
Sampling issues in Postpartum Depressions research
In relation to the study in question, the study will select a sample of male individuals from a population of 100 subjects to determine number and experience of individuals suffering from postpartum depression. The figure below illustrates visual analysis of undertaking practical sampling from a population to form a sample.
Figure 1.1 Visual representation of sampling process
The sample size for the study was computed in line with the preliminary data from the participants in both the intervention as well control groups (Vogt, 2010). Power analysis calculated the minimum number of male participants to be included in the study sample. The process activity will involve undertaking statistical analysis to identify a predetermined number of observations from the carefully selected male population. Jha (2008) notes that the methodology employed by a researcher to sample a significant population is reliant on performed analysis type, characteristics and the selected sample. In the qualitative study on postpartum depression, sample size will rely on five basic things. Vogt (2010) enumerates the aspects as the study’s scope, the nature of the topic, data quality, study’s design and use of shadowed data. During sampling, the method adopted employs interviews or focus groups as well as texts of various issues. Vogt (2010) postulates that each approach embraces positive sampling techniques in hiring participants possessing knowledge regarding the subject under study. The research studies postpartum depression among males and will involve only the individuals having the capacity to generate multiple and valid concepts regarding the phenomenon under study. Sapsford and Jupp (2006) explicitly note that acquiring rich data sets does not necessarily mean working with large samples.
Sarantakos (2007) explains that during sampling the gals as well as the purpose of the study dictate the exact number of individuals needed and number of interviews per subject. The study will undertake pre-post study as well as a control group for efficiency of results. In relation to the phenomenon under study, the research will employ non-random sampling and will include a total of 100 men, 50 in the intervention group and the other half in the control group. Moreover, the study will offer structured education regarding postpartum depression to the men in the intervention group as well as structured education material. Comparison of scores for Edinburg Postpartum Depression Scale may help evaluate the effectiveness of the education given to the intervention group. During sampling, Sapsford and Jupp (2006)report that qualitative research depend on interviewing method as the primary data collection strategy. In a study by Jha (2008), Sapsford and Jupp (2006) found that semi-structured interviews format can effectively work for the sampling methods employed. The objective of employing the method is to elicit the experience and the story of the male participant as they give their story regarding the encounter with postpartum depression syndrome. During the research, the sampling method will necessitate understanding of the researcher’s as well as the male participant’s words.
After selection of the sample, the researcher will physically present himself to the group to enquire from the chosen male participants to give the account of their experience of the postpartum depression. Vogt (2010) rightly points out that probing motivates participants during sampling to elaborate comprehensively regarding the details on the phenomenon under study. Diverse sample will necessitate provision of broader and credible range from the males who have previously experienced the postpartum depression condition. The undertaking will typically employ a range of 1 to 10 persons for the phenomenological studies. Jha (2008)reports that sampling different groups participating in the undertaking will help appeal to external discourses and pin point the influence on the phenomenon under study i.e. Postpartum depression (Vogt, 2010). Larger sample sizes will during the study will help better comprehend variations in language in use across various male individual subjected under questioning. The interviewer during the study will enquire clarifying questions regarding the male participant’s intension to convey the probed questions through use of specific terms (Sarantakos, 2007). Adding subjects to the sample during the undertaking will aid in reaching a theoretical saturation, further helping in constructing a paradigm validat6ed by data collected.
Strategies for data collection during postpartum depression research undertaking
The researcher will employ a mix of several data collection strategies that may include observation, interviews as well as close reading of extant texts. Also, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale as well as the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social support acts as additional data collection strategies for the study in question. The questionnaire in the study has a series of 37 open-ended Yes/No questions regarding the Postpartum Depression characteristics, obsteristic history, pregnancy, infants and infant carer as well as the birth and postpartum period. As Sarantakos (2007) reports observation method will help the researcher marshal information regarding the male participant’s behaviour in their families as influenced by postpartum depression condition (Weller & Romney, 2008). Moreover, the method will make suggestions on the specific way participants can make meaning out of the experiences under the postpartum depression condition. The phenomenological observation will reveal the participant’s living conditions as well as avail clues regarding how the male participants embody meaning (Vogt, 2010). Observation strategy provides information insights regarding the language deployment that consequently leads to realization of target objectives as well as relation relative to other participants in the same study (Jha, 2008).
Moreover, the observation strategy will permit the researcher to understand the construction as well as constrainment of social processes by physical and social surroundings. The observation strategy acts as a rich source of information in such similar studies. Turning to Vogt (2010) one find that observation has a several drawbacks characterized by the intrusiveness potential and logistical difficulties. The strategy will help capture imperative elements regarding the participant’s postpartum experience. The approach also pays a significant role distilling the research motive and meaning. Most importantly, the research regarding postpartum experience in men will employ self-designed questionnaire, EPDS as well as SSRS for survey. The EPDS will serve as screening tools. During the undertaking using diverse data collection strategies a cut of score of 9/10 will be applied to EDPS. In the case the sensitivity as well as specificity will be 82% and 86% respectively (Weller & Romney, 2008). An EPDS of less or equal to 10 will depict a positive screening for the condition. The data collection strategies will divide the males with positive results randomly into intervention and control group (Jha, 2008). The method will necessitate provision of counselling to the intervention group by taking measures such as mailing postpartum depression prevention as well as treatment. Moreover, according to Sapsford and Jupp (2006) the data collection strategies will aid in offering treatment manual, face to face counselling as well as via telephone.
Data analysis
SPSS program helped analyse data collected from a 100 male participants. The EpiData helped perform the data entry for subsequent analysis. Moreover, the data got analysed using addition al tools termed as Strata (Sapsford & Jupp, 2006). The X2 test helped to statistically analyse the two-way disorderly categorical data. Also, the Wilcoxon rank sum test supplemented the analysis method for single ordered categorical data. Moreover, the t test and the F analysis analysed the measurement data. The logistic regression analysis analysed heled screen the Postpartum Depression risk factors (Jha, 2008). Notably, the mixed effects linear model investigated the extent of influence that the intervention factor had on postpartum depression. The figure illustrates data analysis process.
Figure 1.2 data analysis
Ethical issues regarding research on postpartum depression among males
Vogt (2010) notes that the researchers must take cognizance of ethical aspect when interacting with respondents and during collection, sampling and analysis. The interaction between the researcher and the individuals must take cognizance of a couple of ethical principles. The individuals must adhere to the laid ten principal guidelines regarding data collection and analysis. The guide inhibits researchers from subjecting respondent to any harm whatsoever. Moreover, Vogt (2010) postulates that the individuals must respect the respondent’s dignity and seek full consent prior to the study. Also, researchers must guarantee maximum protection of privacy of research participants. The principals require maintenance of ample confidentiality of data collected as well as anonymity of participating individuals or organizations (Weller & Romney, 2008).
The guidelines require researchers to distance themselves from any form of exaggeration regarding research aims and objectives. The individuals must expressly declare any sources of financing and potential conflict of interests. Researchers should maintain a transparent and honest communication with respondent during course of research (Vogt, 2010). The ethical principles bar researchers from issuing misleading information as well as representation of primary data findings in a biased style. Thee participation in the research by any respondent must be voluntary (Jha, 2008). The principles advice researchers to refrain from using derogatory, discriminatory as well as any form of unacceptable language. Conclusively, objectivity is paramount during discussions throughout the paternal postpartum depression research undertaking.
References
Alden, K. R., Lowdermilk, D. L., Cashion, M. C., & Perry, S. E. (2014).Maternity and Women's Health Care. London: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Demontigny, F., Girard, M.-E., Lacharite, C., Dubeau, D., & Devault, A. (2013). Psychosocial factors associated with paternal postnatal depression. Journal of affective disorders, 150(1), 44-49.
Jha, N. K. (2008). Research methodology. Chandigarh: Abhishek Publications. N.p
Sapsford, R., & Jupp, V. (2006). Data collection and analysis. London: SAGE Publications in association with the Open University.
Sarantakos, S. (2007). Data Analysis: Vol. 3. Los Angeles, Calif. [u.a.: Sage.
Vogt, W. P. (2010). Data collection. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Weller, S. C., & Romney, A. K. (2008). Systematic data collection. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
