Postpartum Depression Hits 10%-30% of Nigerian Mothers as Stigma and Care Gaps Delay Treatment
Updated
Updated · The Nation Newspaper · Jun 19
Postpartum Depression Hits 10%-30% of Nigerian Mothers as Stigma and Care Gaps Delay Treatment
1 articles · Updated · The Nation Newspaper · Jun 19
Summary
10% to 30% of new mothers in Nigeria suffer postpartum depression, making it one of the country’s most underdiagnosed maternal health conditions despite severe risks to mother-infant bonding and, in extreme cases, life.
Mental health screening is largely missing from antenatal and postnatal care, with doctors saying overburdened staff often have less than five minutes per patient and rarely use tools such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
Cultural stigma deepens the crisis, as symptoms are often dismissed as spiritual attacks, ingratitude or weakness, pushing women to hide distress until it worsens into chronic depression or postpartum psychosis.
Psychiatric care remains concentrated in urban areas and is further strained by the emigration of specialists, leaving many rural and low-income mothers without access to evaluation or treatment.
Experts say Nigeria needs maternal mental health education in routine pregnancy care, mandatory training for frontline nurses and birth attendants, and community support groups that include husbands and extended families.
With a severe doctor shortage, can community nurses and telemedicine truly solve Nigeria's maternal depression crisis?
Nigeria's mental health law is three years old. Why are new mothers still told to 'pray harder'?
Nigeria’s Postpartum Depression Crisis: Prevalence Exceeds 30%—Urgent Action Needed for Maternal Mental Health in 2026
Overview
Nigeria is facing a major public health crisis with postpartum depression (PPD), affecting up to a quarter of women, especially in regions like Lagos. The problem is made worse by economic pressures, weak social support, and a lack of mental health resources in primary healthcare. These challenges lead to high rates of perinatal depression and anxiety, which often go undiagnosed and untreated. The situation highlights deep disparities in mental health support across the country and shows the urgent need for better awareness, stronger support systems, and improved access to care for mothers.