Introduction: Evidence shows that some men suffer from Postpartum Depression (PPD), and that the adverse effects of this unknown phenomenon affect them and their family.Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine paternal PPD and its relationship with some factors, especially maternal PPD.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 205 couples who were selected using a random cluster sampling in seven health centers affiliated to the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences six to 12 weeks after childbirth. Data was collected from fathers using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a demographic questionnaire. The Edinburgh questionnaire was also used for the mothers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson correlation as well as the Chi-square and linear regression.Results: A total of 11.7% of the fathers had depression symptoms. There was a significant and direct correlation between the paternal and maternal PPD scores (r=0.29, P=0.001). Among the sociodemographic and fertility factors, there was a significant relationship only between a family’s livelihood situation, the number of abortions and the number of pregnancies with the parental depression scores (P=0.05). In the regression analysis, maternal PPD (b0.22) and the family’s livelihood situation (ß0.44) predicted paternal depression (P=0.001). This model totally explained about 30% of the changes in paternal PPD (R2=0.298).Conclusion: Considering the significant frequency of depression in fathers and the role of maternal depression as well as the family’s livelihood situation, it is recommended that evaluation should be carried out on paternal PPD and its risk factors in order to prevent and treat it in a timely manner.

Background: Postpartum depression is endangering the health of mothers and has negative impacts on the evolution of social communication and newborns evolution. This study was conducted to determine the effects of Fordyce Happiness program on the postpartum depression.Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental intervention carried out on postpartum mothers that referred to 4 health centers in Isfahan. A total of 133 mothers were selected by convenient sampling and then randomly allocated in two groups (63 and 70 mothers for intervention and control respectively). Maternal depression 3 times before, immediate and 1 months after intervention in both groups was evaluated with Beck Depression Inventory-II-Persian standardized questionnaires. Educational sessions based on the Fordyce happiness program were conducted for intervention group. Data was analyzed in SPSS17 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois) descriptive and analytic statistical tests at significance level of 0.05.Results: No significant differences in demographic variables between the two groups (P³0.05). No significant differences in depression scores in the two groups before training. However after 2 months a significant difference in depression score was observed between two groups (control group: 19.38±3.94; intervention group: 16.24±4.8; P<0.001). Furthermore in intervention group showed significant differences in depression scores before and after intervention (19.15±3.41 and 16.24±4.83; P<0.001). However in the control group had not any significant change. Conclusion: Fordyce happiness program was effective in reducing postpartum depression in our study. With attention to the effectiveness and low cost of this program, it is recommended that this program might be considered for all mothers after childbirth in health centers or other community-based settings.