Postpartum Depression In Lactating Mothers, Diet Quality And Weight-For-Length of Infants 6–11 Months: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey In Rural Umuahia, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Maternal depression can lead to negative health outcomes for both mother and child, as well as disruption of appropriate  infant and young child feeding practices. The study determined the prevalence of postpartum depression in lactating mothers, diet  quality and weight-for-length of infants 6–11 months. in rural Umuahia, Nigeria.

Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional survey purposively recruited consenting 150 lactating mothers (LM) with infants  6-11months of age living in the rural communities in Umuahia. The study was conducted in six (6) rural communities in Umuahia. In each  of the community, 25 households with lactating mothers with infants 6-11months of age were purposefully selected. Edinburgh  postpartum depression scale was used to assess postpartum depressive symptoms in lactating mothers, the minimum dietary diversity indicator was used to assess the diet quality of the infants, while WHO Anthro software for child growth standard was used to categorise  weight-for-length. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data, while Pearson correlation was performed to determine the extent  to which postpartum depression associated with weight-for-length at 5% level of significance.

Result: Majority (88.0%) of the LM were between 25–34years old. About 6.7% of the lactating mothers have had abortion. Some (9.3%) felt  miserable often, 8.0% of were unhappy to the point of crying, and 9.3% thought of harming themselves. Some (28.7%) of them had  high level of depressive symptoms. About 45.3% of the infants achieved minimum dietary diversity. Some of the infants were wasted  (36%), and severely wasted (16%), while 48.0% had normal weight. There was a significant relationship (p < 0.05) between postpartum depressive symptoms and weight-for-length. 

Conclusion: Postpartum depression in lactating mothers was found to have a significant  relationship on the weight-for-length.