The Silent Crisis of Postpartum Depression: Unveiling the Unspoken Truths

Strategic Insights -

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 report on maternal mental health, postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern, affecting 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth globally. The condition is characterized by a persistent debilitating psychological disorder that occurs after childbirth, causing feelings of sadness, worthlessness, low mood, and loss of interest. In an interview with Weekend Trust, Dr. Chibuzo Samuelson, Senior Registrar Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), explained that PPD is not a sign of weakness, but a serious condition that requires attention and treatment. Mothers like Mrs. Momo Ikwegbu and Mrs. Mercy Etuk, who shared their experiences with Weekend Trust, narrated how PPD affected their lives, causing mood swings, anxiety, and feelings of guilt towards their babies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Postpartum depression is a significant public health concern, affecting 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 report.
  • The condition is characterized by a persistent debilitating psychological disorder that occurs after childbirth, causing feelings of sadness, worthlessness, low mood, and loss of interest.
  • Dr. Chibuzo Samuelson, Senior Registrar Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), explained that PPD is not a sign of weakness, but a serious condition that requires attention and treatment.
  • Mothers like Mrs. Momo Ikwegbu and Mrs. Mercy Etuk, who shared their experiences with Weekend Trust, narrated how PPD affected their lives, causing mood swings, anxiety, and feelings of guilt towards their babies.
  • Dr. Chibuzo Samuelson attributed some of the risk factors to psycho-social or psychological conditions, noting that negative events happening around a pregnant woman, such as losing a family member or going through financial difficulties, are factors.
  • Women treating depression before pregnancy are at a higher risk of postpartum depression, according to a 2024 research on the factors contributing to postpartum depression by the National Institute of Mental Health.
  • Dr. Josephine Akpolile, senior registrar and psychiatrist at JUTH, advised those experiencing PPD to seek a physician to get prescriptions, as the physician will choose medications to suit a breastfeeding mother.
  • Support from partners is key among the remedies for PPD, which will help the woman heal faster during her treatment.
  • PPD should be treated as urgent before the condition deteriorates and begins to affect the child psychologically due to lack of bond and connection between mother and baby.

Statistics:

  • 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth globally experience mental health disorders, with depression being the most common, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 report on maternal mental health.
  • The rates of mental health disorders are even higher in developing countries, reaching 15.6% during pregnancy and 19.8% after childbirth, according to the same report.
  • Only 4.2% of women with high PPD symptoms had obtained mental health care and only 12.7% of women had been in contact with any health service since the onset of their symptoms, according to a 2016 BMC psychiatry article on treatment gap and help-seeking for postpartum depression in a rural African setting.

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (2024). Report on maternal mental health.
  • UNICEF (online publication). Postpartum depression.
  • Dr. Chibuzo Samuelson, Senior Registrar Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), in an interview with Weekend Trust.
  • Mrs. Momo Ikwegbu and Mrs. Mercy Etuk, who shared their experiences with Weekend Trust.
  • Dr. Josephine Akpolile, senior registrar and psychiatrist at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
  • National Institute of Mental Health (2024). Research on the factors contributing to postpartum depression.
  • The British Journal of Psychiatry (online publication). Link between previous depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder and postpartum depression.