Antonni Mikela Agustin, Daryl John Briones, Miguel Alberto Mallari, Cristyanna Minda Ong, Annielov Paboroquez, Neki Lora Rufino, Janna Mikaela Sanchez, Genejane Adarlo

Proceedings of the 15th International Multi-Conference on Complexity, Informatics and Cybernetics: IMCIC 2024, pp. 100-107 (2024); https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.100

Antonni Mikela Agustin
Health Sciences Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Daryl John Briones
Health Sciences Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Miguel Alberto Mallari
Health Sciences Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Cristyanna Minda Ong
Health Sciences Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Annielov Paboroquez
Health Sciences Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Neki Lora Rufino
Health Sciences Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Janna Mikaela Sanchez
Health Sciences Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Genejane Adarlo
Health Sciences Program, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

Cite this paper as:
Agustin, A. M., Briones, D. J., Mallari, M. A., Ong, C. M., Paboroquez, A., Rufino, N. L., Sanchez, J. M., Adarlo, G. (2024). Examining the Social Determinants of Seeking Help for Postpartum Mental Health. In N. Callaos, S. Hashimoto, N. Lace, B. Sánchez, M. Savoie (Eds.), Proceedings of the 15th International Multi-Conference on Complexity, Informatics and Cybernetics: IMCIC 2024, pp. 100-107. International Institute of Informatics and Cybernetics. https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.100

Postpartum is a vulnerable period for women's health, and postpartum mental health issues, including postpartum depression, are growing concerns. Despite the increased awareness of mental health, several factors hinder women from seeking help for mental health concerns during the postpartum period. Hence, this qualitative study used the World Health Organization’s Social Determinants of Health Framework to examine the structural and intermediary determinants that shape women’s help-seeking behaviors regarding mental health during the postpartum period. A thematic analysis of interviews with 12 new mothers revealed that the structural determinants of help-seeking behaviors for postpartum mental health include employment status and working conditions as enablers and social perceptions of mental health, societal expectations of motherhood, and financial capabilities as barriers. This study also showed that intermediary determinants that enable help-seeking for postpartum mental health include effective communication, familiarity, informational support, perceptions of formal sources of help, and the severity of the situation. Conversely, hindrances include gaps in communication, inadequate emotional support, fear of being misunderstood, being gossiped about, and being a burden, belief in the responsibilities associated with motherhood, and belief in self-reliance. These findings can be used to develop initiatives to promote postpartum mental health.