Psychosocial health in adolescent unmarried motherhood in rural Uganda

Implications for community-based collaborative mental health education, and empowerment strategies in the prevention of depression and suicide

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2395530
AutoresLucy Webb (0000-0003-2580-3654, Manchester Metropolitan University, autor de correspondencia), David Kyaddondo (Makerere University), Teri Ford (Independent researcher), Anna Bergqvist (Manchester Metropolitan University), Nick Cox (0000-0002-4159-9449, Manchester Metropolitan University)
Año2023
Volumen60
Número3
Páginas537-551
Fecha de publicación2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaTranscultural Psychiatric Research Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0041-1108 • E-ISSN: 0315-4386
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/13634615221147361
PMID36628461
OpenAlexW4315498852
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas49

Teenage pregnancy rates in Uganda are among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Child marriage is often the result of unmarried teenage pregnancy and is recognised by Uganda's government as a form of sexual violence and an outcome of inequality. However, unmarried motherhood incurs stigma and shame within traditionally living rural communities. Using co-produced Open Space and ethnographic methods, we examined the psychosocial impact of unmarried motherhood on girls and their communities, and explored problem-solving with key local stakeholders. Findings indicate that girls experience extreme stress, social exclusion and rejection by their families, and experience bereavement from school expulsion and the loss of their career aspirations. Depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviour are reportedly not uncommon among this population group. Community and family efforts to promote marriage for these mothers to avoid social stigma increased the mothers' feelings of depression, whereas mothers who became independent appeared to fare better psychologically. Community members and local stakeholders demonstrated a willingness to act locally to reduce the negative impacts of unmarried motherhood but lacked knowledge and support resources. Our findings indicate that mental health promotion for teenage mothers is likely to be better served through empowerment strategies rather than marriage and, in a context of poor mental health service access, there is a substantial role for community mobilisation and the promotion of self-help strategies to support teenage mothers. This study raises important points regarding different community understandings of depression and indicates collaboration between professionals and communities for a values-based approach

Depression (economics · Empowerment · Environmental health · Mental health · Poison control · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Suicide prevention · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology