Probing experiences of motherhood and postnatal depression amongst black African women: the case study of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Abstract

Postnatal depression is a mental disorder that affects women who have recently given birth and negatively impacts on their ability to carry out daily routines and take care of the baby. Postnatal depression is not routinely screened for in primary healthcare facilities in South Africa, despite its reported compromise on mother and child health. This contributes to the prevalence of new mothers experiencing postnatal depression. Factors associated with postnatal depression include the mother’s medical condition, body mass index, psychological factors obstetric factors, sociodemographic factors, and cultural factors. This study explored the experiences of ten Black African mothers who have been diagnosed with postnatal depression and are living in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The study investigated Black African mothers’ understanding of motherhood and postnatal depression and probed the effectiveness of social networks in assisting mothers to cope with the condition while attending to their newborn children. It further investigated the influence of ‘cultural beliefs’ in understanding postnatal depression and the role of ‘culture’ in women’s understanding of their health. This study adopted an interpretivist paradigm and was complemented by a phenomenological research design and a qualitative approach to capture the phenomenon of the lived experiences of Black African women diagnosed with postnatal depression. A semistructured interview schedule was used as a data collection tool to gather emic perspectives from ten Black African mothers aged between 18 and 40 who were purposively sampled. Framed within the identity theory and the theory of social constructivism, this study revealed that the understanding of postnatal depression is not homogenous, rather, it is understood and interpreted through heterogeneous experiences. It further revealed that within the Black African context, postnatal depression is experienced from both a biomedical and a cultural perspective. Additionally, the study revealed the pivotal role of support groups, peer support and social capital in transitioning to motherhood and with coping with postnatal depression.