EduCorner K-6: Mental Health of Mothers

     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.

UnknownFebruary 3, 2013 at 3:58 AM
Interesting feature about mental health problems. The ratio that one in every 3 women have mental health problems during pregnancy such as depression and anxiety seems to be an alarmingly high rate. But women do go through many emotional and physical changes during pregnancy.
Lori ThiemeFebruary 3, 2013 at 8:20 PM
I was thinking about this weeks assignment on things that cause stress. Depression can also cause stress in families when children are in school. I have witnessed this. It can be debilitatiing and keep parents from being able to really be there for their children.