Psychological Morbidity Among Post-Partum Adolescent Mothers Attending Pumwani Maternity Hospital Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

In the recent past, adolescent pregnancy has been on the rise. Estimations indicate that, globally, teenage girls who give birth annually are roughly sixteen million. In countries with few resources, it becomes challenging. Mental health has found a greater concern related to reproductive and sexual health; however, depression-related information in Kenya is limited. This means that more studies on psychological morbidity among teenage mothers are an important area of inquiry. A number of studies from developed countries show a rise in teenage pregnancy and the health consequences to both the teenage mother and the baby, such as anemia, preterm labour, obstructed labour, retardation in intrauterine growth, increased post-partum hemorrhage risk, eclampsia, cephalic pelvic disproportion, sepsis, neonatal death, genital fistula, and the risk of death which contribute to psychological morbidity. The study aimed at assessing predictors of psychological morbidity among post-partum teenage mothers at Pumwani maternity hospital. Descriptive correlation design was the study design whereby 74 postnatal mothers aged between 10 and 19 years who had been admitted in the postnatal wards at Pumwani maternity hospital were recruited through a convenient sampling method. The study used interviewer-administered and self-administered questionnaires in collecting data from those who could read and understand and those who could not read and understand, respectively. SPSS Version 25 was used in verification, coding, and analysis of data. Findings showed that, 51.3% (n =38) were aged between 16 and 18 years, 56.8% (n=42) were single, 60.8% (n=45) had secondary level education with only 12.2% (n=9) had accomplished their education in their respective levels. Out of 74 post-partum adolescent mothers in maternity at Pumwani Hospital, 86.5% (n=64) had psychological morbidity 95% CI: 76.6% - 93.3%. The multivariable analysis established that aged less than 18 years (AOR=11.41, 95% CI:3.08 – 26.23, p=0.004), those who were single (AOR=3.33, 95% CI:1.51 – 21.87, p=0.031) were more likely to have postpartum depression while those who had received care as they wanted were 94% less likely to have depression compared to those who did not receive the care they wanted, (AOR =0.06, 95% CI: 0.01 – 0.67, p=0.022. The prevalence of psychological morbidity is high with age (<18years) and completing highest level of education being significant determinants. Thus, healthcare providers should regularly screen new mothers for depression to help control the burden of psychological morbidity.