Perinatal depression among teenage mothers in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Nepal: A cross-sectional study

Asian J Psychiatr. 2023 Dec:90:103810. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103810. Epub 2023 Oct 24.

Abstract

The teenage pregnancy has serious adverse effect on physical and mental health of mothers and infants. This cross-sectional study was aimed to assess proportion of perinatal depression and well-being of teenage mothers in Nepal. Perinatal women were evaluated using Mental Health Continuum Short Form, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Of 239 perinatal women, 12 (5%) were teenage with a mean age of 18.17 ± 0.93 years. 33.3% (n = 4) of teenage mothers had depressive symptoms, and 25% (n = 3) had moderate/languishing mental health. A high proportion of depression and poor mental health suggests that screening and supportive care should be provided for teenage mothers.

Keywords: Adolescent; Depression; Mental wellbeing; Pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Mothers*
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression, Postpartum* / diagnosis
  • Depression, Postpartum* / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Mothers / psychology
  • Nepal / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Tertiary Healthcare
  • Young Adult