Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are common during
pregnancy and after
childbirth in all parts of the world. One in three
women in developing countries
have a significant mental health problem during this time.
High rates of mental health
problems in pregnant women and mothers have been
reported to occur in
countries within Africa such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, South
Africa, and many more.
Certain risk factors which increase susceptibility to developing mental
health problems include poor socio-economic
status, less valued
social roles and status. Mental health problems are at least 3 to 5
times higher in women exposed to intimate
partner violence and/or rape. Pre-existing psychological disturbances often
surface as depression, substance abuse or
attempts at suicide, particularly when combined with a pregnancy that is
unwanted.
Mental health problems not only affects the mother but the developing
infant as well. If questions regarding the ability of a mother to take care of
her child arise, the survival and development of the infant is jeopardized.
Maternal depression is linked directly to lower infant birth weight, higher rates
of malnutrition and high rates of disease.
It also affects physical, cognitive, social,
behavioral and emotional development of children.
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