Development of strategies for community-based prevention of maternal common mental disorders in urban Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

This sequential explanatory mixed-method study investigated in divided three phases: the quantitative phase, the qualitative phase, and the strategy development phase based on the findings of the first two phases. In the quantitative phase, the population entailed 228 women attending the antenatal clinic (ANC) clinic and key informants related to pregnant mothers at 5 towns administration health facilities in urban Oromia, Ethiopia. In the qualitative phase, the population comprised members of the community who had a relationship with a pregnant mother. On entry (before admission to the ANC clinic), data were collected using a standardized Likert-scale questionnaire, and in the qualitative phase, individual phenomenological interviews were done. Quantitative data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22, and the Colaizzi data analysis method was employed in the qualitative phase. Findings indicate that women with common mental disorders (CMD) such as depression (10.7%) and anxiety (24.9%) prevalence is 32%. These disorders were exacerbated by having lower levels of education, perceiving their financial status as poorer, being unmarried, living alone, the CMD women also stated lower level of social support, lower relationship quality, higher scours of anxiety and depression, living urban, higher maternal age, household insecurity, and low economic status. As regards mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), substance use were risk factors for higher prevalence compared

to the other indicators. It is also noted that very minimal mental health prevention services are available in the community for pregnant women. The psychological obstacles women face during their childbearing years may not end in just CMD. The findings were then utilized in the third phase of strategy development. To meet the mental health needs of this group, a modified socio-ecological model was combined with a public health model for community-based prevention of maternal CMD after expert validation studies.