TRAUMATIC DELIVERY EXPERIENCES AND SOCIAL ISOLATION AS PREDICTORS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AMONG BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS IN CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Postpartum depression is a serious but neglected mental health issue that affects women after childbirth, with characterized persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, worry, fear, mood swings, and feeling disconnected from baby. It affects mother and child bonding, brings about suicidal thoughts, and thoughts of harming the newborn. The objective of the study was to explore the psychosocial factors (traumatic delivery experiences and social isolation) as predictors of postpartum depression among breastfeeding mothers in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Anambra State. 1) Traumatic delivery experiences as a psychosocial factor will not significantly predict postpartum depression among breastfeeding mothers in Chukwuemeka Ojukwu Odumegwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka. (2) social isolation as a psychosocial factor will not significantly predict postpartum depression among breastfeeding mothers in Chukwuemeka Ojukwu Odumegwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka. The research design adopted for the study was a correlational research design. The sample size was 209 breastfeeding mothers in COOUTH, Awka. Data were collected using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a structured questionnaire titled Predictors of postpartum depression. The internal constituency was established using Kudder Richardson at 0.77. The research questions were analyzed using simple logistics regression. Null hypotheses were analyzed at 0.05 level of significance. Findings from the study revealed that traumatic delivery experiences and social isolation, significantly and positively predicted postpartum depression. Based on the findings it was recommended that Federal and State Government should establish community building initiatives, personalized mental health support and establish trauma informed care training.