Knowledge of postpartum depression among mothers at immunisation clinics in Mushin, Nigeria

Abstract

Background Postpartum depression is the most common psychological disorder affecting women during the postpartum period, yet this condition often goes undiagnosed. Studies show that the onset of postpartum depression can occur at any time following delivery, up to three months postpartum; in some cases, up to a year postpartum. This study aimed to assess knowledge of postpartum depression in mothers attending immunisation clinics at selected primary healthcare centres in Mushin, Nigeria. This study will help identify areas for improvement in educating women on postpartum depression, leading to early identification, treatment and reduced cases of the illness. Methods This was a descriptive quantitative study using multistage sampling to select participants from two purposively selected comprehensive health centres. Simple random sampling was used to select 240 mothers to participate in the study, who were given self-structured questionnaires on sociodemographic data and knowledge of postpartum depression. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22. Descriptive statistics were used to present demographic variables and objectives. Inferential statistics, the chi-square test, was used to test hypotheses at P<0.005. Results The majority of participants (60.8%) had poor knowledge of postpartum depression. There is a statistically significant relationship between age and knowledge of postpartum depression (P=0.000). There is no significant relationship between education level and knowledge of postpartum depression. Conclusions The majority of women in this study had poor knowledge of postpartum depression. To tackle this, midwives should aim to reinforce health education on mental and emotional health and assess the emotional and mental health status of women during the antenatal and postpartum periods. It is also key for midwives to refer women on time if they suspect postpartum depression.