Motherhood is a life-changing situation that is meant to usher into joy. However, sometimes it can cause problems for the mother, one of them being postpartum depression.

13 percent of women worldwide according to United Nations data. In developing countries, it is 19.8 percent and there have been some cases of mothers committing suicide.

There is no current statistical data to show how many mothers have suffered postpartum depression in Rwanda because there is no systematic screening yet.

"Poor antenatal health is often related to bad relationships with partners, and medical treatment is not enough. So, we also advise the family as a whole,” Dr. Yvonne Kayiteshonga, the Mental Health Division Manager at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) says.

Kayiteshonga adds that becoming a mother at a young age is also a major risk of depression.

"When someone is still an adolescent, they are developing an identity that they might not be comfortable with body changes. When they have that quick switch to the mother identity, they tend to develop depression and anxiety.”

Poor relationships with parents, polygamy, miscarriages, losing babies, are also among many things that contribute to postpartum depression.

Also, because the affected mothers cannot function properly, the children’s growth and development may be negatively affected as well.

"A mother who is not well cannot take good care of her baby. The child could be malnourished, stunted, among others.”

Signs and treatment

Some of the signs are self-neglect, not excited to have the baby, insomnia, wanting to be alone, not wanting to care for the baby, mood swings, losing interest in things one used to like, among others.

Health care providers in hospitals provide mental health support to mothers who are identified to have antenatal depression.

"We keep teaching people to avoid mistreating a mother. Relationships with their partners should also not be abusive, and we intervene when one has a problem.”

Kayiteshonga added that depression in pregnant mothers or those who have just given birth will be effectively tackled if systematic screening is implemented.

"More than 90 percent of pregnant mothers go for antenatal care. Just as they check the heartbeat of the baby and other health conditions, the mother should also be screened for depression and treated early.

The UN says that effective interventions can also be delivered even by well-trained non-specialist health providers.

"When a woman is pregnant, it is a time of joy. When the pregnancy is not planned, one is not ready to be a mother, and this calls for special attention so that both mother and child can live well.”

Kayiteshonga adds that depression in mothers needs special attention. Not only from health care providers, but everyone starting from the family.