Ongoing support for mothers
experiencing psychological distress.
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Photo: Terry Kurgan
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Providing postnatal care for women in the public sector is notoriously difficult.
For many logistical reasons, women find it difficult to attend health facilities for their own wellbeing after the birth of their babies.
Furthermore, baby clinics focus more on the well-being of the infant than on the mother.At the PMHP, we phone all clients 4 to 6 weeks after birth.
Postnatal follow-up sessions are arranged for all PMHP clients who need further support.
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1 out of 3 women need counselling or some type of mental health intervention during their pregnancy.
62% of the women seen by PMHP suffer from depression or anxiety due to a lack of support, from either their partners, families or communities. This defies the myth that African women 'live in community' - the majority of women seen by PMHP feel isolated, alone and desperate.
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Impact
At 6 weeks after birth, women experiencing distress before the PMHP intervention report the following positive outcomes:
- 90% report that their situation has improved
- 70% report that their situation is ‘much improved’ or ‘resolved’
- 95% report successful bonding with their baby
- 95% report being able to cope with parenting and their life circumstances
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There is still a lack of family support, but she is managing on her own and has friends around. She is adjusting well to motherhood, her partner is supportive and they are thinking together about their future.
PMHP postnatal follow-up report, 2011
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Updated: May 2011
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