Postpartum Mental Illness: Perspectives from an Arabian Gulf Population

Abstract

There is growing awareness of the importance of mental health issues in the perinatal period in Western societies, but very little information is available from Muslim and Arab countries. Qualitative information gathered using focus group discussions of women of childbearing age is presented along with additional information obtained from key informant interviews with grandmothers, husbands, and health care professionals in the United Arab Emirates. The participants were women attending a public sector clinic in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, and a private clinic in Dubai on a particular day. There were 19 women in the age range 17 to 46 years (M age = 29 yr.). The majority of the women who took part in the study did not recognize postnatal depression as a psychological issue but considered the problems a result of “evil eye” or “Jinn.” The present findings suggest the need for initiating awareness programs among women and training of health professionals on the detection and management of postnatal depression.