Post-partum mental disorders in Sagamu

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy and labour are sufficiently stressful to precipitate mental disorders in women after delivery. This may arise newly, as a recurrence or an exacerbation of previously existing mental illness in the individual woman. Postpartum mental disorders are under reported in our practices.

Objective: To determine the incidence of post-partum mental disorders in our practice, pattern of presentation and the commonly associated factors.

Design: A retrospective descriptive study.

Setting: Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Nigeria.

Results: During the study period there were a total of 9085 deliveries and 27 cases of puerperal mental illness. This gave an incidence of 2.9 per 1000 births. The mean age and mean parity of patients were 27.3 (+/- 7.9 SD) and 2.3 (+/- 1.8 SD) respectively. The mean delivery-presentation interval and mean length of hospitalisation were 11.5 (+/- 7.15 SD) and 12.4 (+/- 5.8) respectively.

Conclusion: Incidence of post-partum mental illness in our practice is 2.9 per 1000 births. There were preponderance of primiparity and young maternal age in the study group. Family history of psychiatric disorders and marital disharmony appear to play major role in the aetiology of these disorders in our practice.