At a public presentation of the manual titled, ‘Prevention and Management of Postpartum Depression in Women’ held at it’s office in Lugbe, Abuja, the Executive Director of IWOGRA, Nkechi Obiagbaoso-Udegbunam, stated that the project focuses on creating awareness and building support for the prevention and management of postpartum depression in women, generating evidence for the strengthening of systems and structures for addressing postpartum depression and building the resilience of women of reproductive age to manage postpartum depression experiences.
She noted that postpartum depression is a type of mood disorder or emotional condition that negatively affects a woman’s mental and physical health/wellbeing after childbirth and contributes to the high rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria.
“This on the long run gives rise to anger issues, isolation, emotional detachment from child, disinterest in sex leading to strain in partner’s relationship that sometimes lead to either separation or divorce, murder, postpartum death, health challenges, suicidal tendencies and possible suicide and many more among mothers. All these interfere with the enjoyment of the exercise of women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and make motherhood a bitter-sweet experience,” she said.
Obiagbaoso-Udegbunam added that postpartum depression has not received adequate attention and efforts from a wide range of actors and stakeholders thereby giving rise to the need for immediate redress.
According to her, the training manual would meet the unmet needs of women with postpartum depression, build the capacity of women, their partners, healthcare providers and their communities to prevent and respond to cases of postpartum depression.
“It will also build individual knowledge, understanding and skills in addressing postpartum depression,” she added.
The presentation event was held with support from Action Aid Nigeria and funding from Global Affairs Canada through the Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL Nigeria) Project, Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). It was attended by representatives of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NWCN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and Primary Healthcare Centres in Jikwoyi and Dutse-Alhaji areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Chief Nursing Officer, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NWCN), Timbuak Yamai, said the council was delighted to be collaborating to incorporate postpartum depression into the Nursing and Midwifery Curriculum when it is due for a review.
“The curriculum is the instrument used to train nurses and midwives and the Council is the only regulatory body that has been given the mandate and assigned with the task of regulating the education and practice of nursing and midwifery in Nigeria,” she added.
Also, the Assistant General Secretary, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Nanman Philemon, Kash said the presentation of the training manual was timely and very important for nurses and midwives, adding: “The content is easy to understand and makes it easier for nurses and midwives to work with women in their childbirth age, that is from ante-natal to postnatal.”
A psychologist with Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigeria Society (CWEENS), Grace Larai Iyamu, also noted that a lot of women experience postpartum depression but do not know that it is a mental health condition which if not tackled in time, could lead to mental health damages.
She urged the Federal Ministry of Health to adopt the training manual for national usage.
The training manual addresses the types, signs and symptoms, causes, risk factors and myths around postpartum depression. It also harps on the different treatment methods and the importance of women caring for themselves after childbirth as well as actions to take to aid recovery and the different roles of partners, healthcare providers and community members in supporting the recovery of women experiencing postpartum depression.
