Prevalence of Post-Partum Depression among Mothers Attending Nakuru Level 5 Hospital in Nakuru County, Kenya
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Date
2019
Authors
Tuitoek, Doris Jeptalam
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a non–psychotic mood disorder that can affect women during perinatal period to one year after childbirth. Regardless of the outcome, women who experience postpartum depression, experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness, consequently, impacting negatively not only to the mother, but also to the family and the child’s development. Many women suffer silently from PPD due to the little emphasis placed on the emotional and psychological care with a global statistics of 10-20%; the prevalence is estimated to be higher in Africa at 10-32% with 11 and 13% reported in Kenya. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of PPD among mothers attending Nakuru Level Five hospital in Nakuru County. This research was a cross sectional descriptive study design, which was carried out among mothers from six to eight weeks postpartum seeking maternal child health care clinic services as outpatient. Simple random sampling was used to identify 381 study participants. Data was collected using a researcher-administered structured questionnaire comprising of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screening tool, this collected information regarding socio-demographics, obstetric and child factors. The key informant guide with questions that helped to identify barriers associated with PPD. Analysis was done using statistical software – SPSS version 20 to provide descriptive and inferential statistics by use of t-test for normal distributed data, chi-square for categorical variables and also regression and correlation for comparisons. Results: Majority of the study participants were aged 20-29 years majority 78.7% of them were married, 40.7% reported to have achieved secondary education level while 3.7% had none.67.5% reported a household income of less than Ksh. 19,000 whereas 5% reported of a household income of above 60,000. 17.6% reported to have experienced intimate partner violence, 37.6% reported to have been stressed during the peripartum period, 81.1% reported to get spousal support, and 67.5% said the pregnancy was planned. The PPD prevalence of 11.3% was obtained from this study. On their knowledge level, only 32% were aware and only 2% had ever been screened of PPD. On bivariate analysis, there was a significant relationship between Postpartum depression and gender based violence (p=0.00), peripartum stress (p=0.00), spousal support (p=0.00) and planned pregnancy (p=0.001). This study identified the following barriers to early diagnosis and treatment of PPD: Lack of screening tool in the study area, lack of holistic approach in examination of the mother as more emphasis was placed on the physical wellbeing of the mother other than the psychological and lack of health education on PPD among health care workers. In conclusion, this study identified the prevalence of PPD in Nakuru County at 11.3%, and noted significant association between gender based violence, stress, lack of spousal support, unplanned pregnancy and PPD. PPD is common in our setting however, diagnosis is often missed thus, this study recommends the following that may help improve early detection. For mothers, psychosocial support during the perinatal period that should target victims of Gender Based Violence and offer family support. The health care workers should be sensitized through Continuous Medical Education (CME), provision of policies and screening tools in the health care facility and there should be Community sensitization through mass media on stigma and recognition of early signs of PPD.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted For the Degree of Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Disease Control) In the School of Public Health and Applied Human Sciences of Kenyatta University, November, 2019