Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exploring The Influence Of Postnatal Depression On Neonatal Care Practices Among Mothers In Western Kenya: A Qualitative Study, Florence Achieng, Alloys K’Oloo, Hellen Barsosio, Simon Kariuki, Helen Nabwera

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Postnatal depression (PND) is associated with adverse infant neurodevelopmental outcomes. Evidence is limited on how PND influences neonatal (<28 days old) outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, such as Kenya, which bear the global burden of neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To explore how PND influences neonatal feeding and care practices among women in the early postnatal period in rural Western Kenya.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted at 2-weeks postpartum among mothers of newborn infants identified <72 h old from the postnatal wards and clinics across five health facilities in Kisumu County of Western Kenya. They were all screened for features suggestive of postnatal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Results: Twenty-four mothers were interviewed, 13 of whom had features suggestive of PND. All mothers experienced health or socio-economic adversities in the perinatal period, including traumatic deliveries, financial constraints, and challenging relationships with partners/other family members. Feeding difficulties due to …