PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN

ABSTRACT

In this part of the world, the mental health condition of pregnant women is usually not given much attention, which often affects the mental health of pregnant woman. This study assessed the prevalence of mental health disorders among pregnant women in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State between 2017-2022. Three research objectives were raised for the study. The population comprised of seven thousand, three hundred and twenty (7320). A pro formal (checklist) was used as instrument for data collection. A correlational research design was adopted for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency count, percentage). Results showed that there were 432 cases within the period under study (representing average of 5.9% prevalence). It was reported that 2017 had the highest prevalence (8.9%), while 2022 had the least prevalence (2.30%). Most Common Mental Health Disorders was found out to be Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with 29.9%, while the least was Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (prevalence10.4%). Others were Bipolar Disorder (17.6%), Anxiety (23.6%), Depression (11.1%), Others (7.4%). Risk factors for mental health disorders revealed that lack of social support was most prevalent (35.4%), while the least was previous history of mental illness (1.4%). The study concluded that there was the prevalence of mental health disorder diminished over the years. The study recommended that nurses should take note major contributing factors to the incidence of mental health disorders among pregnant women and help provide intervention and pregnant women should be screened for mental health disorders during antenatal screening to improve their psychological well-being.