As many as 2 in 5 women are estimated to develop postpartum depression in Zimbabwe following the birth of a preterm infant. Depression can then impact the mother’s ability to care for the child, leading to impaired child development.

This grant will fund a descriptive, prospective, cohort study designed to better understand rates of maternal depression and anxiety following the birth of very low birthweight preterm infants hospitalized at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. The study will measure rates of postpartum depression and anxiety, maternal parenting self-efficacy scores, and factors associated with risk for postpartum depression such as stress, intimate partner violence, and social support. Learnings will form a foundation for developing future interventions to address depression and anxiety and promote the self-efficacy of mothers in Zimbabwe and beyond.

“Maternal mental health is known to have a profound effect on maternal self-efficacy and caregiving, yet little is known about rates of depression and anxiety in mothers of preterm infants, or about the design of effective prevention and mitigation programs, especially in Africa,” said Dr. Gary Darmstadt, MD, MS, a principal investigator on the project. “We are excited to determine the incidence and risk factors of depression and anxiety, levels of self-efficacy in newborn care, and the nature of social supports among mothers of preterm infants in Zimbabwe — and to design a program to meet their needs for mental health support.”

Principal Investigators:

Gary Darmstadt, MD, MS, Associate Dean for Maternal and Child Health, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine

Hilda Mujuru, MBChB, MMed Paeds, MSc Clinical Epidemiology, Professor, Department of Child, Adolescent and Women Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe

Funders:

Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health and the Stanford School of Medicine’s Dean’s Office