Perception of Mothers on the Impact of Postpartum Depression on Breastfeeding Patterns in Bwari Area Council Post-Natal Clinics: Implication for Counselling

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the perception of mothers on the impact of postpartum depression on their breastfeeding patterns. The rationale being to address the 3rd Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3) which aims to reduce under 5 mortality and morbidity rate (through good practices of breastfeeding) to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births by 2023. To carry out this research, the Primigravida (first time mothers) were compared with the Multigravida (old mothers). A sample of 35 primigravida and 35 Multigravida were drawn from each of the three post-natal clinics sampled in Bwari Area Council, making a total sample of 210 mothers. The research is a descriptive survey design, two research questions were formulated and two hypotheses were tested employing t-test analysis at 0.05 significant level. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was adapted to collect data which was analyzed with frequency counts, means and standard deviations to answer the research questions. From the findings, the Primigravida experienced moderate level of postpartum depression at a mean score of 2.44 and the multigravida at mean score of 2.08. The t-test analysis revealed a significance difference on the impact of the depression between the two categories of mothers, rejecting the hypothesis which states that “there is no significant difference between the Multigravida and the primigravida on the impact of postpartum depression on breastfeeding patterns depression. It was therefore recommended that the primigravida should receive psycho-education and undergo CBT to manage postpartum depression and engage in healthy breastfeeding practices.