West Afr J Med. 2025 Dec 30;42(9):708-717.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Depression among women of reproductive age (WRA) is a major public health challenge because of its impact on mothers, children, and family members.
OBJECTIVE: The study determined the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among women of reproductive age at the three levels of healthcare in Ibadan, Nigeria.
METHODS: This cross-sectional facility-based study was conducted to compare the prevalence and correlates of depression among 991 pregnant, 662 postpartum, and 674 non-pregnant women using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and binary logistic regression to determine the factors associated with and predictors of depression at p<0.05%.
RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 29.9±6.3 years. Prevalence of depression was highest among pregnant women (38.5%), followed by non-pregnant (32.9%) and postpartum women (29.6%) (X2=14.93; p-value=0.001). Women whose husbands had primary education or below and those with financial problems were twice as likely to be depressed as those who did not. The presence of family problems and money-related issues were the predictors of depression across the groups.
CONCLUSION: Depression was common in women across the reproductive age lifespan. There is a need for screening for depression during routine health care to identify the women most at risk and for prompt intervention.
PMID:42035309
