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Summary
Maternal mental health disorders, often stigmatised and underfunded in West Africa, require urgent attention to address cultural barriers, healthcare gaps, and their far-reaching impact on families and society.
It is always said that the road to motherhood is the most rewarding. On social media, there are pictures of beaming mothers with their newborn babies, further setting this notion of motherhood as pure bliss. However, the reality of motherhood could not be farther from ideal for many women. Every year in West Africa, thousands of women silently suffer from postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis, all highly misconceived and often totally dismissed in the public health system.
Indeed, these are some of the most poorly studied and ill-funded health concerns anywhere in the world; it is against such a general trend that West Africa continues to make the world worry. Cultural stigma, gaps in healthcare, and weak policy responses continue to make this crisis a silent burden carried by many mothers.
The Silent Crisis: A Regional Overview
According to the World Health Organisation, mental disorders, majorly depression, affect 10% of pregnant women and 13% of those who have just delivered. WHO indicates that one in every five women throughout the world suffers from maternal mental health disorders. These figures are even higher in Sub-Saharan Africa, where as high as 25% of mothers may exhibit symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD).
An approximation of the rates of new mothers with depression within Nigeria stands around 14 to 20%, while estimates for other Western African countries are set at approximately 7-32%.
Postpartum Depression (PPD) is the most common maternal mental health disorder characterised by feelings of sadness, tiredness, and hopelessness that are overwhelming. The rarer ones include postpartum psychosis, which affects 1 in every 1,000 mothers, possibly manifested through hallucinations, delusions, or suicidal thoughts. And yet, despite these shocking statistics, maternal mental health takes a huge backseat to physical health, leaving millions not to get the help they desperately need.
A Comparative Study of Osun and Kwara States of Nigeria
The current burden of maternal mental disorders, however, demonstrates wide disparities in prevalence across different geographical regions in the country. In Osun State, for instance, cultural norms that emphasise traditional postpartum care often delay medical intervention for mental health issues. Many women rely on family elders or traditional birth attendants, who may dismiss symptoms of postpartum depression as mood swings or spiritual weakness.
In contrast, Kwara State has made modest progress in integrating mental health services into primary healthcare. Some health centres offer screening for depression during antenatal visits, although these services remain limited to urban areas. The disparity between the two states highlights how access to care, community attitudes, and healthcare infrastructure shape maternal mental health outcomes.
Cultural and Structural Drivers of the Crisis
The cultural stigma represents one of the major impediments to addressing maternal mental health in West Africa. Societal expectations often place mothers as resilient caregivers who should suppress personal struggles. To admit feelings of sadness or inadequacy is often looked upon as a failure, and so many women suffer in silence.
Health systems are not helpful either. For instance, in Nigeria, less than 300 psychiatrists attend to over 200 million citizens. Often, services are concentrated in urban centers and leave rural areas with a deficiency. The situation is also dire in Ghana, with the WHO recording 20 psychiatrists per 1 million people.
Consequences on Family and Society
Untreated maternal mental health disorders have far-reaching implications. Children of depressed mothers are likely to experience developmental delays, behavioural problems, and school difficulties; these factors are frequently self-perpetuating and may result in a cycle of disadvantage and poverty.
Marital relationships also suffer. Partners may feel helpless or frustrated, leading to increased conflict and, in some cases, family breakdowns. Beyond the home, the economic impact is staggering. A 2021 study published in The Lancet estimated that left unaddressed, mental health disorders cost more than $1 trillion every year in lost productivity. In West Africa, these costs, though less documented, are straining already fragile economies.
Such disparities highlight the urgency of region-specific interventions to mitigate the economic impact of untreated maternal mental health disorders.
Existing Interventions: What’s Working?
Against this background, some promising initiatives emerge to address the issues of maternal mental health in this region:
- Community-Based Models: The Friendship Bench program has been training lay health workers in problem-solving therapy in Zimbabwe. Adapting this model to rural Nigerian communities could bridge the care gap.
- Digital Innovations: Ghana’s mHealth programs, which use SMS to provide health education, can be expanded to include maternal mental health support. Similarly, Nigeria’s Hello Mama platform could incorporate tools like the MomMoodBooster app to offer cognitive behavioural therapy.
- Policy Efforts: Some countries are beginning to integrate mental health into broader health strategies. Ghana’s 2012 Mental Health Act offers a framework for scaling up, but its actual implementation has been very slow.
Recommendations for a Holistic Approach
Some key steps that would help address the maternal mental health challenges with efficacy in West Africa include:
- Awareness Campaigns: The governments, NGOs, and the media need to de-stigmatize maternal mental health through awareness campaigns that normalise seeking help and stress the importance of well-being.
- Integrated Healthcare: Mental health services should be embedded in antenatal and postnatal care. Training community health workers to screen for depression can make care more accessible.
- Sustainable Funding: There should be specific commitments from governments toward the cause of maternal mental health. Partnerships with NGOs, private sector partners, could give additional funding, along with expertise.
- Digital Tools: Engage in telehealth and mobile apps that will bridge the gaps in order to reach the rural areas.
- Policy Implementation: Existing mental health policies must be fully enacted, with accountability mechanisms to ensure progress.
This study represents the reflections upon a very critical and at the same time immensely ignored aspect of public health: disorders related to maternal mental health, enveloped by stigma. Additionally, cultural norms and an extremely meagre system for health with deficiencies in policies ensure that many are left without care.
It’s time to address maternal mental health. Governments, health providers, NGOs, and communities must break the silence, reduce stigma, and invest in accessible care. This can be done by supporting mothers with compassion and prioritising mental well-being, which are essential for healthier families and societies. Every mother deserves care, not a silent struggle.
Editorial note: This story was first published on BONews service.
