Peter C Rockers1, Davidson H Hamer1,2, David T Silverman3, John P Killion4, Denise Evans5, Lezanie Coetzee5. 1. Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 2. Infectious Disease Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. dsilverm@bu.edu. 4. Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize patterns of worsening mental health during the postpartum period among women in rural areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa, and to identify correlates with household demographic factors. METHODS: We collected data on maternal mental health symptoms shortly after birth and then again 7 months postpartum using the World Health Organization self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) from December 2017 to November 2018. The absolute change in SRQ-20 symptom score was calculated to determine worsening mental health over the postpartum period. Linear regressions were performed to investigate factors associated with mental health symptom scores at varying postpartum time points. RESULTS: We found increased reporting of poor mental health symptoms at 7 months postpartum as compared to shortly after birth (n = 224). Worsening maternal mental health over the postpartum period was associated with higher SRQ-20 symptom score shortly after birth (p < 0.001) and reported food insecurity at 7 months (p < 0.001). SRQ-20 symptom scores in the postpartum period were not associated with breastfeeding in the past 24 h reported at 7 months postpartum (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Women in rural South Africa, like women in many settings, may be vulnerable to worsening postpartum mental health when they lack sufficient socioeconomic resources and when they have pre-existing depressive/anxiety symptoms.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize patterns of worsening mental health during the postpartum period among women in rural areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa, and to identify correlates with household demographic factors. METHODS: We collected data on maternal mental health symptoms shortly after birth and then again 7 months postpartum using the World Health Organization self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) from December 2017 to November 2018. The absolute change in SRQ-20 symptom score was calculated to determine worsening mental health over the postpartum period. Linear regressions were performed to investigate factors associated with mental health symptom scores at varying postpartum time points. RESULTS: We found increased reporting of poor mental health symptoms at 7 months postpartum as compared to shortly after birth (n = 224). Worsening maternal mental health over the postpartum period was associated with higher SRQ-20 symptom score shortly after birth (p < 0.001) and reported food insecurity at 7 months (p < 0.001). SRQ-20 symptom scores in the postpartum period were not associated with breastfeeding in the past 24 h reported at 7 months postpartum (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Women in rural South Africa, like women in many settings, may be vulnerable to worsening postpartum mental health when they lack sufficient socioeconomic resources and when they have pre-existing depressive/anxiety symptoms.
Authors: Trudy Harpham; Michael Reichenheim; Rebecca Oser; Elizabeth Thomas; Narmeen Hamid; Surinder Jaswal; Ana Ludermir; Magna Aidoo Journal: Health Policy Plan Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 3.344
Authors: Paul A Harris; Robert Taylor; Robert Thielke; Jonathon Payne; Nathaniel Gonzalez; Jose G Conde Journal: J Biomed Inform Date: 2008-09-30 Impact factor: 6.317
Authors: Jane Fisher; Meena Cabral de Mello; Vikram Patel; Atif Rahman; Thach Tran; Sara Holton; Wendy Holmes Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2011-11-24 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Paul A Harris; Robert Taylor; Brenda L Minor; Veida Elliott; Michelle Fernandez; Lindsay O'Neal; Laura McLeod; Giovanni Delacqua; Francesco Delacqua; Jacqueline Kirby; Stephany N Duda Journal: J Biomed Inform Date: 2019-05-09 Impact factor: 6.317
Authors: Abiodun O Adewuya; Bola O Ola; Olutayo O Aloba; Boladale M Mapayi; John A O Okeniyi Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2007-11-07 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Sarah Dewing; Mark Tomlinson; Ingrid M le Roux; Mickey Chopra; Alexander C Tsai Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2013-05-23 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Joan Christodoulou; Karl Le Roux; Mark Tomlinson; Ingrid M Le Roux; Linnea Stansert Katzen; Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2019-01-15 Impact factor: 4.839