Common Perinatal Mental Health Problems: Correlates, Birth Outcomes and Quality of Life among Women in Accra
| dc.contributor.author | Adomako, B. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-06-08T10:02:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2022-06-08T10:02:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017 | |
| dc.description | PhD. Psychology | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Mental health problems are a key determinant of maternal and child mortality and morbidity, but are not currently recognized in existing initiatives to promote perinatal mental health, resulting in poor health outcomes for women, their children, families and the society as a whole. The main aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between perinatal mental health problems, birth outcomes and quality of life among women in Accra. A three phased iterative sequential mixed methods design was utilized for this research. The setting of this research was the Accra Metropolitan Area. Study One (1), was a phenomenological study with findings indicating, that pregnancy was considered a mix bag of joys and distress. Again, pregnancy was experienced on various levels; through the lens of mother, within family, and within the health system. Furthermore, there was low awareness of perinatal mental disorders. Finally, various coping mechanisms such as faith and engagement in productive activity were employed to deal with the perinatal mental health problems experienced. The results from Study One, fed into Study Two, which was a two-wave prospective panel study, consisting of one hundred and twenty-two (122) purposively sampled women, who were within the perinatal period. Standardized instruments were administered at two time points (during pregnancy and after birth). Results of Study Two indicated that; there was a negative significant relationship between depressive symptomatology and quality of life during pregnancy and after birth with Social Support moderating these relationships. Intimate partner relationship however did not have any moderating effect on those same relationships. Also, there were no lagged effects between CMD‘s during pregnancy and quality of life after birth. A third study (Study Three) was conducted as a follow up to Study Two, in order to explore the contextual factors that might underlie some of its findings. It emerged from this study that participants ‘conceptions of childbirth were shaped by their cultural context. In addition, explanatory models accounting for CMD symptomatology were based on multilevel experiences, with a sense of self efficacy and beliefs in spirituality being used as coping mechanisms. It also emerged from Study Three, that constructions of intimate partner relationship reflected the male hegemony in Ghanaian cultural settings. A further exploration into perinatal mental health care services in Accra showed an unmet need as well as the essence of a culturally competent perinatal mental health service within Accra. The implications of the findings for clinical practice and policy, as well as the limitations and recommendations from this research are addressed. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/38127 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | University of Ghana | en_US |
| dc.subject | Mental health problems | en_US |
| dc.subject | maternal | en_US |
| dc.subject | child mortality | en_US |
| dc.subject | perinatal mental health | en_US |
| dc.subject | women | en_US |
| dc.subject | Accra | en_US |
| dc.title | Common Perinatal Mental Health Problems: Correlates, Birth Outcomes and Quality of Life among Women in Accra | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |