Intimate partner violence, parental self-efficacy and postpartum depression among first time mothers.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between Intimate Partner Violence, Parental Self-efficacy and Postpartum Depression among First time mothers in Kawempe Division. The study used quantitative and correlation study designs to investigate the relationship between intimate partner violence, parental self-efficacy and postpartum depression .A study sample of 186 first time mothers was selected using purposive sampling. Abusive Behavior Inventory was used to test for intimate partner violence,parenting sense of competence scale was used to test for parental self-efficacy,Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to test for postpartum depression.Collected data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-24) . Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to test the level of significance of the hypothesis. Results showed that there is no significant relationship between intimate partner violence and parental self-efficacy [r(185)=.103,p=.162] .Intimate partner violence and postpartum depression are significantly related; [r(185)=.340**p=.000], the results also revealed that there is a significant relationship between parental self-efficacy and postpartum depression [r(185)=.382**,p=.000]. The study findings showed a relationship between intimate partner violence and postpartum depression , therefore there is a need for early interventions aimed at putting an end to intimate partner violence as a preventative measure for postpartum depression . Parental self-efficacy and postpartum depression were significantly related in the study hence measures to increase parental self-efficacy should be put in place so that postpartum depression can be controlled. Awareness regarding intimate partner violence, parental self-efficacy and postpartum depression and how the variables affect each other should be increased among first time mothers, their spouses and society at large.