"Postpartum Mental Health In A Low-Resource Setting: Prevalence, Risk Factors, And Symptom Patterns Among Sudanese Women"
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i5.578Keywords:
Prenatal depression, postpartum psychiatric morbidity, maternal mental health,, Sudan, cesarean section, latent class analysis, NICU exposureAbstract
Background: Despite the presence of psychological disorders like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), maternal health and infant growth are significantly threatened in low-resource settings. This study aims to investigate the frequency, factors and indications of psychological problems experienced by women from Sudan.
Methodology: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study between January 2022 and December 2022, involving 602 postpartum women, assessing their psychological status at three intervals: days 3–7, week 6, and week 12. Standardised psychometric instruments (EPDS, GAD-7, PCL-5) and the application of multivariate logistic regression along with latent class growth analysis (LCGA) were used to identify risk factors and symptom patterns.
Results: In total, 37.4% of the cases were associated with psychological disorders. At week 6, depression reached its peak at 28.2%, while PTSD rose steadily to 16.7% by week 12. Among the predictors of depression and PTSD, emergency cesarean birth was significantly associated with increased psychological morbidity (OR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.52–3.01), although the odds ratio did not exceed the higher clinical relevance threshold of 2.68 observed for PTSD. Greater psychological harm was correlated with reduced earnings, unreliable marriages, and low education levels. Three distinct pathways were identified by LCGA: Resilient (48.2%), Emerging Distress (32.5%), and Chronic Distress (19.3%), the latter of which showed extended symptom load and a concentration of inpatient NICU exposure.
Conclusion: Sudanese women frequently experience psychological disorders after childbirth, characterized by distinct risk factors and changing patterns. Significant indicators include emergency cesarean section, social issues, and inadequate support networks. To aid women in their recovery, routine mental health assessments and targeted therapies are necessary.
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