Financial Strain and Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Mediating Pathways of Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity, and Social Support

Introduction: Although mothers’ mental health is receiving more attention, little remain known about the impact that financial strain may have on the mental health of expectant mothers. This is crucial in low- and middle-income countries because vulnerable populations are disproportionately affecte...

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Main Author: Olubukola A. Wellington
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Semmelweis University Institute of Mental Health 2023-12-01
Series:European Journal of Mental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ejmh.semmelweis.hu/index.php/ejmh/article/view/281
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author Olubukola A. Wellington
author_facet Olubukola A. Wellington
author_sort Olubukola A. Wellington
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Although mothers’ mental health is receiving more attention, little remain known about the impact that financial strain may have on the mental health of expectant mothers. This is crucial in low- and middle-income countries because vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by high rates of poverty, insufficient social safety nets, and unstable economies. Aims: This study examined the potential role that financial strain may play in prenatal depression while also taking into account the potential mediating roles of food insecurity, intimate relationship violence, and social support. Methods: To gather the data, a cross-sectional survey of 519 pregnant women in the second and third trimesters were selected methodically from a pool of women awaiting routine antenatal care from one primary health care center in each of the five urban local government areas of Ibadan metropolis. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to measure prenatal depression. Using parallel and serial mediation models, the relationship between the variables – financial strain, intimate partner violence, food insecurity, social support, and prenatal depression – was examined. Results: Of the participants in this study, 28.1% reported having symptoms of depression during their pregnancy. The results also show that prenatal depression and financial strain are related, with each of the three mediators operating in a parallel and sequential causal order. The results of the mediation point to a causal chain with moderate effects. Conclusions: Interventions should evaluate the effects of integrating mental health services and social needs assessments into antenatal and primary health care.
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spelling doaj-art-baae45eb837348c9b6fb90c2af11bc2e2025-08-20T02:01:20ZengSemmelweis University Institute of Mental HealthEuropean Journal of Mental Health1788-71192023-12-011810.5708/EJMH.18.2023.0014Financial Strain and Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Mediating Pathways of Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity, and Social SupportOlubukola A. Wellington0Department of Behavioural Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Nigeria Introduction: Although mothers’ mental health is receiving more attention, little remain known about the impact that financial strain may have on the mental health of expectant mothers. This is crucial in low- and middle-income countries because vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by high rates of poverty, insufficient social safety nets, and unstable economies. Aims: This study examined the potential role that financial strain may play in prenatal depression while also taking into account the potential mediating roles of food insecurity, intimate relationship violence, and social support. Methods: To gather the data, a cross-sectional survey of 519 pregnant women in the second and third trimesters were selected methodically from a pool of women awaiting routine antenatal care from one primary health care center in each of the five urban local government areas of Ibadan metropolis. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to measure prenatal depression. Using parallel and serial mediation models, the relationship between the variables – financial strain, intimate partner violence, food insecurity, social support, and prenatal depression – was examined. Results: Of the participants in this study, 28.1% reported having symptoms of depression during their pregnancy. The results also show that prenatal depression and financial strain are related, with each of the three mediators operating in a parallel and sequential causal order. The results of the mediation point to a causal chain with moderate effects. Conclusions: Interventions should evaluate the effects of integrating mental health services and social needs assessments into antenatal and primary health care. https://ejmh.semmelweis.hu/index.php/ejmh/article/view/281pregnancyfinancial straindepressionsocial supportpsychosocial stressors
spellingShingle Olubukola A. Wellington
Financial Strain and Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Mediating Pathways of Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity, and Social Support
European Journal of Mental Health
pregnancy
financial strain
depression
social support
psychosocial stressors
title Financial Strain and Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Mediating Pathways of Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity, and Social Support
title_full Financial Strain and Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Mediating Pathways of Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity, and Social Support
title_fullStr Financial Strain and Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Mediating Pathways of Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity, and Social Support
title_full_unstemmed Financial Strain and Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Mediating Pathways of Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity, and Social Support
title_short Financial Strain and Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women in Ibadan, Nigeria: Mediating Pathways of Intimate Partner Violence, Food Insecurity, and Social Support
title_sort financial strain and prenatal depression among pregnant women in ibadan nigeria mediating pathways of intimate partner violence food insecurity and social support
topic pregnancy
financial strain
depression
social support
psychosocial stressors
url https://ejmh.semmelweis.hu/index.php/ejmh/article/view/281
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