Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, Kenya
Abstract Background Globally, adolescent mothers are at increased risk for postpartum depression (PPD). In Kenya, 15% of adolescent girls become mothers before the age of 18. While social support can buffer a mother’s risk of PPD, there are gaps in knowledge as to whether—and which types—of social s...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Reproductive Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01943-0 |
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| author | Luwam T. Gebrekristos Anthony Idowu Ajayi Allison K. Groves Caroline W. Kabiru |
| author_facet | Luwam T. Gebrekristos Anthony Idowu Ajayi Allison K. Groves Caroline W. Kabiru |
| author_sort | Luwam T. Gebrekristos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Globally, adolescent mothers are at increased risk for postpartum depression (PPD). In Kenya, 15% of adolescent girls become mothers before the age of 18. While social support can buffer a mother’s risk of PPD, there are gaps in knowledge as to whether—and which types—of social support are protective for adolescent mothers in Kenya. Understanding the associations between support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers can inform mental health interventions. Methods Cross-sectional data of adolescent mothers ≤ 1 year postpartum (aged 14–19 years old) in an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya (N = 193) were used in analyses. Participants with scores ≥ 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were classified as having postpartum depressive symptoms. To fully examine the different ways that social support might matter for adolescent mothers, we examined several domains of social support: child’s father support during pregnancy, parental support during pregnancy, parental support of girl’s education, membership in a social club, having a good female friend and having a supportive female adult one can turn to for help. We used bivariate and adjusted modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors to examine the associations between support measures and depressive symptoms, controlling for relevant covariates. Results One-quarter of participants experienced postpartum depressive symptoms (24.9%). Adolescent mothers who reported their mothers or their fathers as being very supportive of girls’ education had a lower risk of depressive symptoms (ARR 0.35, 95% CI 0.20–0.61; ARR:0.34, 95% CI 0.13–0.90, respectively) than those whose mothers or fathers were less supportive. Adolescent mothers who had a good female friend to confide in had decreased risk of depressive symptoms (ARR 0.61; 95% CI 0.37–0.99). Conclusions Having a mother or father being very supportive of girls’ education and having a good female friend reduced risk of depressive symptoms. With the unique challenges of early childbearing and high adolescent birth rates in Kenya, interventions which increase parental and peer support during pregnancy and the postpartum period could improve adolescent mothers’ mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb3bad0a81f44c288147904a48410768 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1742-4755 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb3bad0a81f44c288147904a484107682025-02-02T12:27:26ZengBMCReproductive Health1742-47552025-01-012211910.1186/s12978-025-01943-0Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, KenyaLuwam T. Gebrekristos0Anthony Idowu Ajayi1Allison K. Groves2Caroline W. Kabiru3Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public HealthSexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) Unit, African Population and Health Research CenterDepartment of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public HealthSexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) Unit, African Population and Health Research CenterAbstract Background Globally, adolescent mothers are at increased risk for postpartum depression (PPD). In Kenya, 15% of adolescent girls become mothers before the age of 18. While social support can buffer a mother’s risk of PPD, there are gaps in knowledge as to whether—and which types—of social support are protective for adolescent mothers in Kenya. Understanding the associations between support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers can inform mental health interventions. Methods Cross-sectional data of adolescent mothers ≤ 1 year postpartum (aged 14–19 years old) in an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya (N = 193) were used in analyses. Participants with scores ≥ 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were classified as having postpartum depressive symptoms. To fully examine the different ways that social support might matter for adolescent mothers, we examined several domains of social support: child’s father support during pregnancy, parental support during pregnancy, parental support of girl’s education, membership in a social club, having a good female friend and having a supportive female adult one can turn to for help. We used bivariate and adjusted modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors to examine the associations between support measures and depressive symptoms, controlling for relevant covariates. Results One-quarter of participants experienced postpartum depressive symptoms (24.9%). Adolescent mothers who reported their mothers or their fathers as being very supportive of girls’ education had a lower risk of depressive symptoms (ARR 0.35, 95% CI 0.20–0.61; ARR:0.34, 95% CI 0.13–0.90, respectively) than those whose mothers or fathers were less supportive. Adolescent mothers who had a good female friend to confide in had decreased risk of depressive symptoms (ARR 0.61; 95% CI 0.37–0.99). Conclusions Having a mother or father being very supportive of girls’ education and having a good female friend reduced risk of depressive symptoms. With the unique challenges of early childbearing and high adolescent birth rates in Kenya, interventions which increase parental and peer support during pregnancy and the postpartum period could improve adolescent mothers’ mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01943-0Adolescent mothersPostpartum depressionSupportEducationMental health |
| spellingShingle | Luwam T. Gebrekristos Anthony Idowu Ajayi Allison K. Groves Caroline W. Kabiru Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, Kenya Reproductive Health Adolescent mothers Postpartum depression Support Education Mental health |
| title | Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_full | Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_short | Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_sort | examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in nairobi kenya |
| topic | Adolescent mothers Postpartum depression Support Education Mental health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-025-01943-0 |
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