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Abrahams Z, Boisits S, Schneider M, Honikman S, Lund C. Facilitators and barriers to detection and treatment of depression, anxiety and experiences of domestic violence in pregnant women. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12457. [PMID: 37528133 PMCID: PMC10394005 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36150-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In South Africa, symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression and anxiety are highly prevalent during the perinatal period and linked to experiences of domestic violence. However, limited routine detection and treatment is available to pregnant women with these problems, even though evidence suggests that screening and treating CMDs during pregnancy improves the health and economic outcomes of mothers and their children, and has been suggested as a key approach to improving the health of perinatal women and children. We investigated facilitators and barriers of service-providers and service-users in detecting and treating pregnant women with symptoms of CMDs and experiences of domestic violence. This study was conducted in four midwife obstetric units (MOUs) in Cape Town, South Africa, and in the non-profit organisations providing community-based support in the communities surrounding the MOUs. Service-provider perspectives were informed by qualitative interviews with 37 healthcare workers providing care to pregnant women. Qualitative interviews with 38 pregnant women attending the same MOUs for their first antenatal care visit provided service-user perspectives. Facilitators identified included the availability of a mental health screening questionnaire and the perceived importance of detection and treatment by both service-providers and -users. Barriers contributing to the low detection rates included service-users concerns about the lack of confidentiality and feelings of shame related to experiences of domestic violence as well as service providers discomfort in dealing with mental health issues, their limited time available and heavy patient load. In addition, service-providers highlighted the lack of standardised referral pathways and the poor uptake of referrals by women with symptoms of depression and anxiety, or experiences of domestic violence. While the system-level barriers need to be addressed at a policy level, the patient- and provider-level barriers identified indicate the need to strengthen health systems by training antenatal care nurses to detect symptoms of CMDs and experiences of domestic violence in pregnant women, developing standardised referral pathways and training lay healthcare workers to provide treatment for mild symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulfa Abrahams
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.
| | - Sonet Boisits
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Marguerite Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Simone Honikman
- Perinatal Mental Health Project, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Crick Lund
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
- Health Service and Population Research Department, King's Global Health Institute, Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Seward N, Hanlon C, Abdella A, Abrahams Z, Alem A, Araya R, Bachmann M, Bekele A, Bogale B, Brima N, Chibanda D, Curran R, Davies J, Beyene A, Fairall L, Farrant L, Frissa S, Gallagher J, Gao W, Gwyther L, Harding R, Kartha MR, Leather A, Lund C, Marx M, Nkhoma K, Murdoch J, Petersen I, Petrus R, van Rensburg A, Sandall J, Sevdalis N, Sheenan A, Tadesse A, Thornicroft G, Verhey R, Willott C, Prince M. HeAlth System StrEngThening in four sub-Saharan African countries (ASSET) to achieve high-quality, evidence-informed surgical, maternal and newborn, and primary care: protocol for pre-implementation phase studies. Glob Health Action 2022; 15:1987044. [PMID: 35037844 PMCID: PMC8765245 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2021.1987044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
To achieve universal health coverage, health system strengthening (HSS) is required to support the of delivery of high-quality care. The aim of the National Institute for Health Research Global Research Unit on HeAlth System StrEngThening in Sub-Saharan Africa (ASSET) is to address this need in a four-year programme, with three healthcare platforms involving eight work-packages. Key to effective health system strengthening (HSS) is the pre-implementation phase of research where efforts focus on applying participatory methods to embed the research programme within the existing health system. To conceptualise the approach, we provide an overview of the key methods applied across work-package to address this important phase of research conducted between 2017 and 2021.Work-packages are being undertaken in publicly funded health systems in rural and urban areas in Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Stakeholders including patients and their caregivers, community representatives, clinicians, managers, administrators, and policymakers are the main research participants.In each work-package, initial activities engage stakeholders and build relationships to ensure co-production and ownership of HSSIs. A mixed-methods approach is then applied to understand and address determinants of high-quality care delivery. Methods such as situation analysis, cross-sectional surveys, interviews and focus group discussions are adopted to each work-package aim and context. At the end of the pre-implementation phase, findings are disseminated using focus group discussions and participatory Theory of Change workshops where stakeholders from each work package use findings to select HSSIs and develop a programme theory.ASSET places a strong emphasis of the pre-implementation phase in order to provide an in-depth and systematic diagnosis of the existing heath system functioning, needs for strengthening and stakeholder engagement. This common approach will inform the design and evaluation of the HSSIs to increase effectiveness across work packages and contexts, to better understand what works, for whom, and how.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Seward
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Hanlon
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ahmed Abdella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Zulfa Abrahams
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Atalay Alem
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Max Bachmann
- Department of Population Health and Primary Care, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Alemayehu Bekele
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Birke Bogale
- Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Nataliya Brima
- King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Dixon Chibanda
- University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Psychology Department, School of Applied Human Science College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu Natal, London, UK
| | - Robyn Curran
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Justine Davies
- Centre for Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Global Surgery, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Andualem Beyene
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lara Fairall
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Lindsay Farrant
- Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Souci Frissa
- King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jennifer Gallagher
- Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Wei Gao
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Liz Gwyther
- Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard Harding
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | - Andrew Leather
- King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maggie Marx
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kennedy Nkhoma
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Murdoch
- Department of Population Health Science, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Inge Petersen
- Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ruwayda Petrus
- Psychology Department, School of Applied Human Science College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu Natal, Berea, Durban, South Africa
| | - André van Rensburg
- Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jane Sandall
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Science, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Nick Sevdalis
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Sheenan
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Science, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Amezene Tadesse
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Graham Thornicroft
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | - Chris Willott
- King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Martin Prince
- King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
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Lasater ME, Beebe M, Warren NE, Winch PJ, Soucko F, Keita M, Doumbia S, Murray SM. Reliability and validity of a perinatal depression screening instrument in rural Mali. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022; 2:100059. [PMID: 36644110 PMCID: PMC9835090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2021.100059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In order to reduce the burden of perinatal depression in low- and middle-income countries, health systems must be able to identify and treat women suffering from depression. The objective of our study was to develop a locally valid and reliable screening instrument for use in identifying pregnant women and mothers of young children with a local depression syndrome, dusukasi, in rural Mali. Methods We administered a locally adapted screening instrument containing items from the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25) to 180 pregnant women and mothers of children under age 2 in Sélingué, Mali to assess the instrument's psychometric properties and validity. Item Response Theory was used to develop an abbreviated version of the measure and the validity and psychometric properties of this shortened version were compared with the full-length scale. Results The full 28-item scale exhibited a single factor structure with good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92). Women who self-identified as suffering from dusukasi (n = 87) in a known groups analysis to assess construct validity had significantly higher depression and anxiety symptom scores (p < 0.0001) and functional impairment scores (p < 0.0001) compared to women not reporting dusukasi (n = 93). The shortened 16-item scale performed as well as the full scale in identifying women with dusukasi. Conclusions Construct validity of our adapted screening instrument was supported for identifying dusukasi in rural Malian women. Our methodology can be applied in other settings to develop similarly valid screening instruments for perinatal depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly E. Lasater
- Social and Behavioral Interventions Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA,Corresponding author. 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA, 21205. (M.E. Lasater)
| | - Madeleine Beebe
- Social and Behavioral Interventions Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Nicole E. Warren
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Peter J. Winch
- Social and Behavioral Interventions Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Fatoumata Soucko
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Mali
| | - Mariam Keita
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Mali
| | - Seydou Doumbia
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Mali
| | - Sarah M. Murray
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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Stanton AM, O'Cleirigh C, Knight L, Davey DLJ, Myer L, Joska JA, Mayer KH, Bekker L, Psaros C. The importance of assessing and addressing mental health barriers to PrEP use during pregnancy and postpartum in sub-Saharan Africa: state of the science and research priorities. J Int AIDS Soc 2022; 25:e26026. [PMID: 36251124 PMCID: PMC9575939 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pregnant and postpartum women (PPW) in sub‐Saharan Africa are at disproportionately high risk of HIV infection compared to non‐pregnant women. When used consistently, pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can prevent HIV acquisition and transmission to the foetus or infant during these critical periods. Recent studies have demonstrated associations between mental health challenges (e.g. depression and traumatic stress associated with intimate partner violence) and decreased PrEP adherence and persistence, particularly among adolescents, younger women and women in the postpartum period. However, mental health is not currently a major focus of PrEP implementation research and programme planning for PPW. Discussion PrEP implementation programmes for PPW need to assess and address mental health barriers to consistent PrEP use to ensure effectiveness and sustainability in routine care. We highlight three key research priorities that will support PrEP adherence and persistence: (1) include mental health screening tools in PrEP implementation research with PPW, both to assess the feasibility of integrating these tools into routine antenatal and postpartum care and to ensure that limited resources are directed towards women whose symptoms may interfere most with PrEP use; (2) identify cross‐cutting, transdiagnostic psychological mechanisms that affect consistent PrEP use during these periods and can realistically be targeted with intervention in resource‐limited settings; and (3) develop/adapt and test interventions that target those underlying mechanisms, leveraging strategies from existing interventions that have successfully mitigated mental health barriers to antiretroviral therapy use among people with HIV. Conclusions For PPW, implementation of PrEP should be guided by a robust understanding of the unique psychological difficulties that may act as barriers to uptake, adherence and persistence (i.e. sustained adherence over time). We strongly encourage PrEP implementation research in PPW to incorporate validated mental health screening tools and ultimately treatment in routine antenatal and postnatal care, and we stress the potential public health benefits of identifying women who face mental health barriers to PrEP use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia M. Stanton
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA,Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA,Fenway HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Conall O'Cleirigh
- Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA,Fenway HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA,Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Lucia Knight
- School of Public HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Dvora L. Joseph Davey
- School of Public HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa,Division of Infectious Diseases, Geffen School of MedicineUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Landon Myer
- School of Public HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - John A. Joska
- HIV Mental Health Research Unit, Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Kenneth H. Mayer
- Fenway HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA,Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA,HIV Mental Health Research Unit, Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa,Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Christina Psaros
- Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA,Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Abrahams Z, Schneider M, Honikman S, Olckers P, Boisits S, Seward N, Lund C. Health systems strengthening interventions for perinatal common mental disorders and experiences of domestic violence in Cape Town, South Africa: protocol for a pilot implementation study. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:100. [PMID: 35526062 PMCID: PMC9077881 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01053-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the perinatal period, common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression and anxiety are highly prevalent, especially in low-resource settings, and are associated with domestic violence, poverty, and food insecurity. Perinatal CMDs have been associated with several adverse maternal and child outcomes. While the Department of Health in South Africa provides healthcare workers with the tools to detect psychological distress and experiences of domestic violence, few healthcare workers routinely screen pregnant women at clinic visits, citing discomfort with mental health issues and the lack of standardised referral pathways as the key barriers. The aim of this study is to select and evaluate a set of health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions aimed at improving the care and outcomes for perinatal women with CMDs and experiences of domestic violence, attending public healthcare facilities in Cape Town. METHODS This study consists of a pre-implementation, development, and implementation phase. Contextual barriers identified during the pre-implementation phase included poor patient knowledge and health-seeking behaviour, high levels of stigma, and poor detection, referral, and treatment rates. Implementation science determinant frameworks were applied to findings from the pre-implementation phase to identify determinants and gaps in delivering high-quality evidence-informed care. A participatory Theory of Change workshop was used to design a HSS programme, consisting of awareness raising, detection, referral, and treatment. HSS interventions selected to support the delivery of the HSS programme includes training, health promotion, change to the healthcare environment, task-sharing, audit and feedback, and performance monitoring. The implementation phase will be used to assess several implementation and clinical outcomes associated with the delivery of the HSS programme, which will be piloted at three healthcare facilities. Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to evaluate the implementation and clinical outcomes. DISCUSSION This pilot implementation study will inform us about a range of implementation and clinical outcome measures that are relevant for assessing HSS interventions for perinatal women with depression, anxiety, or experiences of domestic violence in low-resource settings. Lessons learnt from the pilot study will be incorporated into the design of a cluster randomised control trial for which further funding will be sought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulfa Abrahams
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.
| | - Marguerite Schneider
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Simone Honikman
- Perinatal Mental Health Project, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Patti Olckers
- Metro Health Services, Klipfontein/Mitchells Plain Sub Structure, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sonet Boisits
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Nadine Seward
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's Global Health Institute, King's College London, London, UK
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Food insecurity and common mental disorders in perinatal women living in low socio-economic settings in Cape Town, South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cohort study. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2022; 9:49-60. [PMID: 36606240 PMCID: PMC8861552 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2022.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common mental disorders (CMDs), i.e. depression and anxiety, are highly prevalent during the perinatal period, and is associated with poverty, food insecurity and domestic violence. We collected data from perinatal women at two time-points during the COVID-19 pandemic to test the hypotheses that (1) socio-economic adversities at baseline would be associated with CMD prevalence at follow-up and (2) worse mental health at baseline would be associated with higher food insecurity prevalence at follow-up. METHODS Telephonic interviews with perinatal women attending healthcare facilities in Cape Town, South Africa. Multivariable (multilevel) regression analysis was used to model the associations of baseline risk factors with the prevalence of household food insecurity and probable CMD at 3 months follow-up. RESULTS At baseline 859 women were recruited, of whom 217 (25%) were pregnant, 631 (73%) had given birth in the previous 6 months, 106 (12%) had probable CMD, and 375 (44%) were severely food insecure. At follow-up (n = 634), 22 (4%) were still pregnant, 603 (95%) had given birth, 44 (7%) had probable CMD, and 207 (33%) were severely food insecure. In the multivariable regression model, after controlling for confounders, unemployment [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.19 (1.12-2.27); p < 0.001] and had higher scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [IRR 1.05 (1.03-1.09); p < 0.001] at baseline predicted food insecurity at follow-up; and experiencing domestic violence [OR 2.79 (1.41-5.50); p = 0.003] at baseline predicted CMD at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the complex bidirectional relationship between mental health and socio-economic adversity among perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Abrahams Z, Boisits S, Schneider M, Prince M, Lund C. The relationship between common mental disorders (CMDs), food insecurity and domestic violence in pregnant women during the COVID-19 lockdown in Cape Town, South Africa. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2022; 57:37-46. [PMID: 34282488 PMCID: PMC8288830 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-021-02140-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to explore the relationship between common mental disorders (CMDs), food insecurity and experiences of domestic violence among pregnant women attending public sector midwife obstetric units and basic antenatal care clinics in Cape Town during the COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS Perinatal women, attending 14 healthcare facilities in Cape Town, were enrolled in the study during baseline data collection before the COVID-19 lockdown. During the lockdown period, fieldworkers telephonically contacted the perinatal women who were enrolled in the study and had provided contact details. The following data were collected from those who consented to the study: socio-demographic information, mental health assessment, food insecurity status and experiences of domestic violence. Poisson regression was used to model the associations of a number of risk factors with the occurrence of CMDs. RESULTS Of the 2149 women enrolled in the ASSET study, 885 consented to telephonic interviews. We found that 12.5% of women had probable CMDs and 43% were severely food insecure. Psychological distress increased significantly during the lockdown period, compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak. Using multivariate Poisson regression modelling, we showed that the risk of CMDs was increased in women who were severely food insecure or who experienced psychological or sexual abuse. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence of the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the mental health status of perinatal women living in low-resource settings in Cape Town and highlights how a crisis such as the COVID-19 lockdown amplifies the psycho-social risk factors associated with CMDs in perinatal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulfa Abrahams
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Sonet Boisits
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marguerite Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Martin Prince
- Health Service and Population Research Department, Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa ,Health Service and Population Research Department, Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
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Is there an optimal screening tool for identifying perinatal depression within clinical settings of sub-Saharan Africa? SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2021.100015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
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Vanderkruik R, Raffi E, Freeman MP, Wales R, Cohen L. Perinatal depression screening using smartphone technology: Exploring uptake, engagement and future directions for the MGH Perinatal Depression Scale (MGHPDS). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257065. [PMID: 34587183 PMCID: PMC8480830 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Women may experience new-onset or worsening depressive disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum. If untreated, there may be detrimental consequences to the health and wellbeing of the woman and to her baby. There is a need for improved tools and approaches that can be easily and broadly implemented to effectively detect depression during the perinatal period. Early identification of depression during pregnancy is an important first step towards connecting women to treatment and preventing continued depression into the postpartum or beyond. This report provides preliminary findings from a pilot study of a digital screening app for perinatal depression expiring potential for app reach, engagement, and user demographics and mental health symptoms. With mainly passive recruitment efforts, we collected cross-sectional mental health data on over 700 women during the perinatal period, including women across over 30 countries. We report on mean depression scores among women during pregnancy and the postpartum as well as on constructs that are commonly comorbid with depression, including anxiety, sleep dysregulation, and perceived stress. Over half of the women during pregnancy and over 70% of women in the postpartum had a depression score indicative of clinical depression. Future research directions for this work and potential for public health impact are discussed, including longitudinal data collection and analyses of symptomology over time and embedding evidence-based digital therapeutics into the app as a means to increase access to mental health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Vanderkruik
- Ammon-Pinizzotto Center for Women’s Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Edwin Raffi
- Ammon-Pinizzotto Center for Women’s Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Marlene P. Freeman
- Ammon-Pinizzotto Center for Women’s Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Rebecca Wales
- Ammon-Pinizzotto Center for Women’s Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Lee Cohen
- Ammon-Pinizzotto Center for Women’s Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
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Boisits S, Abrahams Z, Schneider M, Honikman S, Kaminer D, Lund C. Developing a task-sharing psychological intervention to treat mild to moderate symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety in South Africa: a mixed-method formative study. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:23. [PMID: 33722252 PMCID: PMC7958439 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00443-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Symptoms of depression and anxiety are highly prevalent amongst perinatal women in low-resource settings of South Africa, but there is no access to standardised counselling support for these conditions in public health facilities. The aim of this study is to develop a task-sharing psychological counselling intervention for routine treatment of mild to moderate symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety in South Africa, as part of the Health Systems Strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa (ASSET) study. METHODS We conducted a review of manuals from seven counselling interventions for depression and anxiety in low- and middle-income countries and two local health system training programmes to gather information on delivery format and common counselling components used across task-sharing interventions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 health workers and 37 pregnant women from four Midwife Obstetric Units in Cape Town to explore perceptions and needs relating to mental health. Stakeholder engagements further informed the intervention design and appropriate service provider. A four-day pilot training with community-based health workers refined the counselling content and training material. RESULTS The manual review identified problem-solving, psychoeducation, basic counselling skills and behavioural activation as common counselling components across interventions using a variety of delivery formats. The interviews found that participants mostly identified symptoms of depression and anxiety in behavioural terms, and lay health workers and pregnant women demonstrated their understanding through a range of local idioms. Perceived causes of symptoms related to interpersonal conflict and challenging social circumstances. Stakeholder engagements identified a three-session counselling model as most feasible for delivery as part of existing health care practices and community health workers in ward-based outreach teams as the best placed delivery agents. Pilot training of a three-session intervention with community-based health workers resulted in minor adaptations of the counselling assessment method. CONCLUSION Input from health workers and pregnant women is a critical component of adapting existing maternal mental health protocols to the context of routine care in South Africa, providing valuable data to align therapeutic content with contextual needs. Multisector stakeholder engagements is vital to align the intervention design to health system requirements and guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonet Boisits
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.
| | - Zulfa Abrahams
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Marguerite Schneider
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Simone Honikman
- Perinatal Mental Health Project, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Debra Kaminer
- Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Crick Lund
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
- King's Global Health Institute, Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crisping Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
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