Despite the evidence for the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for perinatal depression, their uptake is low in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Reasons for this include the lack of contextually adapted interventions and mental health specialists to deliver them. This study aimed to test the acceptability and feasibility of a psychosocial intervention for perinatal depression, the Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer Delivered, adapted for use in rural Malawi. A multi-method evaluation of feasibility and acceptability of the intervention was conducted using a one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design and an exploratory qualitative study. Pre-post intervention change in depression scores (paired t-test) and recruitment, retention and session adherence rates were calculated. Qualitative data were collected through 29 in-depth interviews (22 mothers and 7 peer volunteers) and 1 Focus Group Discussion (18 mothers). Thematic analysis approach was used to analyse qualitative data. Seven (7) out of 8 peer volunteers were successfully trained to deliver the intervention. A total of 31 pregnant women with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥12 were offered intervention, of whom 24 were enrolled (recruitment rate 77.4%). Out of these 24 women, 22 completed the intervention (retention rate 91.6%). Mean difference between pre- and post-test EPDS scores one week after 8th session was 7.59 (95% CI 4.98 to 10.19), p<0.001. Qualitative evaluation showed that the intervention was acceptable despite some challenges including stigma and issues around incentivization of peer volunteers. The Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer Delivered, adapted for use in Malawi, was feasible to deliver and acceptable to its target population. The intervention may be useful in management of perinatal depression in primary care settings in Malawi. However, definitive trials are needed to evaluate its effectiveness.
In low-income Africa, the epidemiology of physical multimorbidity and associated mental health conditions is not well described. We investigated the multimorbidity burden, disease combinations, and relationship between physical multimorbidity and common mental health disorders in rural and urban Malawi using early data from 9,849 adults recruited to an on-going large cross-sectional study on long-term conditions, initiated in 2021. Multimorbidity was defined as having two or more measured (diabetes, hypertension) or self-reported (diabetes, hypertension, disability, chronic pain, HIV, asthma, stroke, heart disease, and epilepsy) conditions. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the 7-item General Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and defined by the total score (range 0-27 and 0-21, respectively). We determined age-standardized multimorbidity prevalence and condition combinations. Additionally, we used multiple linear regression models to examine the association between physical multimorbidity and depression and anxiety symptom scores. Of participants, 81% were rural dwelling, 56% were female, and the median age was 30 years (Inter Quartile Range 21-43). The age-standardized urban and rural prevalence of multimorbidity was 14.1% (95% CI, 12.5-15.8%) and 12.2% (95% CI, 11.6-12.9%), respectively. In adults with two conditions, hypertension, and disability co-occurred most frequently (18%), and in those with three conditions, hypertension, disability, and chronic pain were the most common combination (23%). Compared to adults without physical conditions, having one (B-Coefficient (B) 0.79; 95% C1 0.63-0.94%), two- (B 1.36; 95% CI 1.14-1.58%), and three- or more- physical conditions (B 2.23; 95% CI 1.86-2.59%) were associated with increasing depression score, p-trend <0.001. A comparable 'dose-response' relationship was observed between physical multimorbidity and anxiety symptom scores. While the direction of observed associations cannot be determined with these cross-sectional data, our findings highlight the burden of multimorbidity and the need to integrate mental and physical health service delivery in Malawi.
Maternal mental health (MMH) is recognised as globally significant. The prevalence of depression and factors associated with its onset among perinatal women in Malawi has been previously reported, and the need for further research in this domain is underscored. Yet, there is little published scholarship regarding the acceptability and ethicality of MMH research to women and community representatives. The study reported here sought to address this in Malawi by engaging with communities and healthcare providers in the districts where MMH research was being planned. Qualitative data was collected in Lilongwe and Karonga districts through 20 focus group discussions and 40 in-depth interviews with community representatives and healthcare providers from January through April 2021. All focus groups and interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim (in local languages Chichewa and Tumbuka), translated into English, and examined through thematic content analysis. Participants' accounts suggest that biopsychosocial MMH research could be broadly acceptable within the communities sampled, with acceptability framed in part through prior encounters with biomedical and public health research and care in these regions, alongside broader understandings of the import of MMH. Willingness and consent to participate do not depend on specifically biomedical understandings of MMH, but rather on familiarity with individuals regarded as living with mental ill-health. However, the data further suggest some 'therapeutic misconceptions' about MMH research, with implications for how investigations in this area are presented by researchers when recruiting and working with participants. Further studies are needed to explore whether accounts of the acceptability and ethicality of MMH research shift and change during and following research encounters. Such studies will enhance the production of granular recommendations for further augmenting the ethicality of biomedical and public health research and researchers' responsibilities to participants and communities.
People with psychosis in Malawi have very limited access to timely assessment and evidence-based care, leading to a long duration of untreated psychosis and persistent disability. Most people with psychosis in the country consult traditional or religious healers. Stigmatising attitudes are common and services have limited capacity, particularly in rural areas. This paper, focusing on pathways to care for psychosis in Malawi, is based on the Wellcome Trust Psychosis Flagship Report on the Landscape of Mental Health Services for Psychosis in Malawi. Its purpose is to inform Psychosis Recovery Orientation in Malawi by Improving Services and Engagement (PROMISE), a longitudinal study that aims to build on existing services to develop sustainable psychosis detection systems and management pathways to promote recovery.
Malawi has a population of around 20 million people and is one of the world's most economically deprived nations. Severe mental illness (largely comprising psychoses and severe mood disorders) is managed by a very small number of staff in four tertiary facilities, aided by clinical officers and nurses in general hospitals and clinics. Given these constraints, psychosis is largely undetected and untreated, with a median duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) of around six years. Our aim is to work with people with lived experience (PWLE), caregivers, local communities and health leaders to develop acceptable and sustainable psychosis detection and management systems to increase psychosis awareness, reduce DUP, and to improve the health and lives of people with psychosis in Malawi. We will use the UK Medical Research Council guidance for developing and evaluating complex interventions, including qualitative work to explore diverse perspectives around psychosis detection, management, and outcomes, augmented by co-design with PWLE, and underpinned by a Theory of Change. Planned deliverables include a readily usable management blueprint encompassing education and community supports, with an integrated care pathway that includes Primary Health Centre clinics and District Mental Health Teams. PWLE and caregivers will be closely involved throughout to ensure that the interventions are shaped by the communities concerned. The effect of the interventions will be assessed with a quasi-experimental sequential implementation in three regions, in terms of DUP reduction, symptom remission, functional recovery and PWLE / caregiver impact, with quality of life as the primary outcome. As the study team is focused on long-term impact, we recognise the importance of having embedded, robust evaluation of the programme as a whole. We will therefore evaluate implementation processes and outcomes, and cost-effectiveness, to demonstrate the value of this approach to the Ministry of Health, and to encourage longer-term adoption across Malawi.
Psychotic Disorders , Quality of Life , Humans , Malawi , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Psychotic Disorders/drug therapy , Mood Disorders , Critical Pathways
People with tuberculosis (TB) are susceptible to mental distress. Mental distress can be driven by biological and socio-economic factors including poverty. These factors can persist beyond TB treatment completion yet there is minimal evidence about the mental health of TB survivors. A cross-sectional TB prevalence survey of adults was conducted in an urban community in Zambia. Survey participants were administered the five-item Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-5) mental health screening tool to measure mental distress. Associations between primary exposure (history of TB) and other co-variates with mental distress were investigated using logistic regression. Of 3,393 study participants, 120 were TB survivors (3.5%). The overall prevalence of mental distress (SRQ-5 ≥ 4) in the whole study population was 16.9% (95% CI 15.6%-18.1%). Previous TB history was not associated with mental distress (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.75-1.92, p-value 1.66). Mental distress was associated with being female (OR 1.23 95% CI 1.00-1.51), older age (OR 1.71 95% CI 1.09-2.68) and alcohol abuse (OR 1.81 95% CI 1.19-2.76). Our findings show no association between a previous TB history and mental distress. However, approximately one in six people in the study population screened positive for mental distress.
Background: Perinatal depression is a common and disabling mental health problem in Malawi and other Low- and middle-income countries. There is evidence for effective psychosocial interventions for perinatal depression, but no such intervention has been developed for use in Malawi. The broad aim of this study was to explore the cultural appropriateness of a psychosocial intervention for perinatal depression called the Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer delivered for adaptation and use in Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was used. Data were collected through conducting five Focus Group Discussions, involving thirty-eight purposefully selected participants including pregnant women, community volunteers and their supervisors, the Health Surveillance Assistants and maternal health care workers at implementation and policy level following observations of video recorded role plays of the Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer delivered sessions in theatre testing. A content analysis approach was used to analyse data. Results: Six main themes were generated regarding the appropriateness of the content and delivery of the Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer delivered intervention, including: 1) Focus of the intervention; 2) Cultural appropriateness of the content; 3) Language used; 4) Context; 5) Provider of the intervention; and 6) Flexibility in the delivery of the intervention. The Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer delivered intervention was deemed appropriate for the target population, though with recommendations to: review illustrations to enhance clarity, use culturally appropriate stories and idioms, use daily spoken language, and adapt the number and duration of sessions to meet the needs of individual clients. Conclusions: These findings highlight important areas to inform adaptation of the Thinking Healthy Programme-Peer delivered and add to the growing evidence of cultural adaptation of psychosocial interventions for perinatal depression.
Depression , Psychosocial Intervention , Depression/psychology , Depression/therapy , Female , Humans , Malawi , Peer Group , Pregnancy , Propiophenones
BACKGROUND: Approximately one in five women who have recently given birth suffer from common mental disorder (CMD), particularly depression and/or anxiety. Most available CMD screening tools in most low- and middle-income countries do not screen for more than one mental health problem. Having a screening tool that is free to use, short in assessment time, and used to screen for more than one CMD is appealing in a resource-constrained setting. METHOD: We conducted a criterion validation study of the Chichewa translated and adapted DASS-21 instrument against gold standard diagnoses of depression and anxiety disorders using an independently administered Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). We compared the performance of the DASS-depression subscale with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Internal reliability was reported using both Cronbach's alpha and ordinal alpha. The DASS-21 and EPDS ability to discriminate cases from non-cases was assessed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. We selected cut-off points for DASS-21 and EPDS that maximise both sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: One hundred fifteen participants were administered all the measures. Approximately 11.3% and 14.8% had depression and anxiety diagnoses respectively using SCID. The overall Cronbach's alpha for the DASS-21 scale was 0.74. The DASS-21 subscales had Cronbach's alpha values of 0.66, 0.29 and 0.52 for depression (DASS-D), anxiety (DASS-A) and stress (DASS-S), respectively. The ordinal alpha for DASS-D, DASS-A and DASS-S subscales were 0.83, 0.74 and 0.87, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.61; 0.91) for DASS-D and 0.65 for DASS-A. At a cut-off point of one or more, the sensitivity and specificity for DASS-D were 69.2% and 75.5%, whilst DASS-A was 52.9% and 75.5%, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient for the association between DASS-D and EPDS was r = 0.61, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: The DASS-21 had good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha), and its ordinal alpha demonstrated good internal reliability for all its sub-scales. Regarding the criterion validation, only the DASS-D and EPDS demonstrated a satisfactory ability to discriminate cases from non-cases. Our findings suggest that health practitioners can use DASS-D as an alternative tool in screening depression as it has fewer questions than EPDS.
Depression, Postpartum , Mental Disorders , Anxiety/diagnosis , Depression , Depression, Postpartum/diagnosis , Depression, Postpartum/psychology , Female , Humans , Malawi , Mass Screening , Postpartum Period , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results
Introduction: Collaboration between traditional and biomedical medicine can lead to holistic care and improved health outcomes for people with mental illnesses. The current study aimed to explore the views and experiences of traditional and western medicine practitioners on potential collaboration in the care of people living with mental illness in Blantyre, Malawi. Method: A phenomenological qualitative research design was used. Data were collected using both one-on-one in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Participants were traditional healers and western medicine practitioners in Blantyre, Malawi. We conducted 10 in-depth interviews with traditional healers, 4 focus group discussions (2 for traditional healers and 2 for western medicine practitioners) and 6 key informant interviews with leaders of the two groups. The sample was determined based on data saturation. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. We used a combination of deductive and inductive coding. Results: Five broad themes were identified from the data: experiences with collaboration, views on collaboration, models of collaboration, barriers to collaboration, and factors that can facilitate collaboration. participants had no experience of formal collaboration between traditional healers and western healthcare workers in the management of mental illness. However, some reported experience of successful collaborations in other health areas such as safe motherhood, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Many participants showed a positive attitude toward collaboration and were in support of it. Barriers to collaboration included negative attitudes and a lack of resources. Factors that can facilitate collaboration were dialogue, training and respect. Referral and training were the preferred forms of collaboration. Conclusion: With proper structures and respectful dialogue, a collaboration between traditional and western medicine practitioners is possible in Blantyre, Malawi.
Medicine, African Traditional , Mental Disorders , Humans , Malawi , Medicine, African Traditional/methods , Mental Disorders/therapy , Qualitative Research , Health Personnel
Interest in maternal mental health research is growing around the world. Maternal mental health research studies in Malawi have, for instance, sought to determine and establish the incidence and prevalence of depression and anxiety in pregnant people and the factors that contribute to experiences of these states. This article reports stakeholder perspectives on potential community concerns with biopsychosocial mental health research (which might include collecting blood samples) in Malawi. These perspectives were generated through a town hall event that featured five focus group discussions with various participants. In this article, we reflect on key themes from these discussions, demonstrating the endurance of long-standing concerns and practices around autonomy, consent, and the drawing of blood. We conclude by arguing that, while maternal mental health research conducted in Malawi could benefit Malawian women and children, consultation with community stakeholders is necessary to inform whether and how such research should be conducted.
Family , Mental Health , Child , Female , Focus Groups , Humans , Malawi/epidemiology , Pregnancy
BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with chronic physical illnesses and negatively affects health outcomes. However, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. We investigated the prevalence of depression among adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients attending non-communicable diseases (NCD) clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi, and estimated the level of routine detection by NCD clinicians. This study set out to determine the prevalence of major depression and its detection among adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients attending NCD clinics in Lilongwe, Malawi. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study design, 323 T2DM patients aged ≥ 18 years were screened for depression with the Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) followed by diagnostic assessment with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). We analysed the association between presence of major depression and sociodemographic factors using logistic regression. RESULTS: Three quarters of the participants (76%) were females. The participants' ages ranged from 21-79 years. Of the 323 participants, 58 (18%) met criteria for DSM-IV major depression. None of the cases of major depression had been identified by the NCD clinicians. Major depression was found not to be significantly associated with any of the sociodemographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: We found that depression is common among NCD clinic attendees with T2DM in Malawi, and poorly detected by NCD clinicians. Given the high prevalence and challenges in clinical identification, integration of depression screening with a standardized validated tool should be a high priority so as to link patients to appropriate services.
OBJECTIVE: The Maternal Mental Health in Canada, 2018/2019, survey reported that 18% of 7,085 mothers who recently gave birth reported "feelings consistent with postpartum depression" based on scores ≥7 on a 5-item version of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS-5). The EPDS-5 was designed as a screening questionnaire, not to classify disorders or estimate prevalence; the extent to which EPDS-5 results reflect depression prevalence is unknown. We investigated EPDS-5 ≥7 performance relative to major depression prevalence based on a validated diagnostic interview, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID). METHODS: We searched Medline, Medline In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science Core Collection through June 2016 for studies with data sets with item response data to calculate EPDS-5 scores and that used the SCID to ascertain depression status. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis to estimate pooled percentage of EPDS-5 ≥7, pooled SCID major depression prevalence, and the pooled difference in prevalence. RESULTS: A total of 3,958 participants from 19 primary studies were included. Pooled prevalence of SCID major depression was 9.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.0% to 13.7%), pooled percentage of participants with EPDS-5 ≥7 was 16.2% (95% CI 10.7% to 23.8%), and pooled difference was 8.0% (95% CI 2.9% to 13.2%). In the 19 included studies, mean and median ratios of EPDS-5 to SCID prevalence were 2.1 and 1.4 times. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence estimated based on EPDS-5 ≥7 appears to be substantially higher than the prevalence of major depression. Validated diagnostic interviews should be used to establish prevalence.
Depression, Postpartum/epidemiology , Depression, Postpartum/psychology , Mass Screening/methods , Mothers/psychology , Canada/epidemiology , Depression, Postpartum/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder, Major , Evidence-Based Medicine , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
BACKGROUND: It is now well established that the integration of mental health care into primary care is one of the most effective ways of reducing the substantial treatment gap for mental disorders which exists in most low- and middle-income countries. This study set out to determine whether a Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) training and supervision package could be contextualised and implemented within the existing health care system in five districts in Southern Malawi. In addition, the study assessed the feasibility of holding community awareness events and establishing peer support groups in each district to further improve the access of the population to evidence-based mental health care. METHODS: A lead training team of experienced Malawian mental health professionals was appointed and mhGAP training materials were contextualised for use in Malawi. The lead team delivered a 4-day training package to district mental health teams in five districts covering three core conditions: psychosis, moderate-severe depression, and alcohol and substance use disorders. District mental health teams then delivered a 2-day training package and provided monthly supervision for 3 months to 500 non-specialist healthcare workers. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare knowledge, confidence and attitude scores before and immediately after training, and after 6 months in two districts. Case detection rates measured pre- and post-training in the pilot district were compared using Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test. Community awareness events were held and peer support groups were established in each of the five districts. The acceptability of the package was assessed through focus group discussions involving specialist and non-specialist healthcare workers, users and carers. RESULTS: Non-specialist healthcare workers' knowledge and confidence scores significantly increased immediately after training in comparison to pre-training. These scores were maintained at 6 months. However, no statistically significant change in attitude scores was detected. Case detection rates increased immediately after the training in comparison to pre-training. Responses from focus group discussion participants illustrated the programme's acceptability. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that, with minimal additional funding and working within existing structures, an mhGAP based training at primary and secondary health care levels is feasible in Southern Malawi.
Africa is a diverse and changing continent with a rapidly growing population, and the mental health of mothers is a key health priority. Recent studies have shown that: perinatal common mental disorders (depression and anxiety) are at least as prevalent in Africa as in high-income and other low- and middle-income regions; key risk factors include intimate partner violence, food insecurity and physical illness; and poor maternal mental health is associated with impairment of infant health and development. Psychological interventions can be integrated into routine maternal and child healthcare in the African context, although the optimal model and intensity of intervention remain unclear and are likely to vary across settings. Future priorities include: extension of research to include neglected psychiatric conditions; large-scale mixed-method studies of the causes and consequences of perinatal common mental disorders; scaling up of locally appropriate evidence-based interventions, including prevention; and advocacy for the right of all women in Africa to safe holistic maternity care.
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore the perceptions of perinatal women and key maternal care health workers about perinatal depression and the health service needs required to inform development of a culturally sensitive and acceptable psychosocial intervention. METHODS: This qualitative study used a descriptive exploratory design; it is the first phase of a larger mixed methods study aimed at adapting a psychosocial intervention for perinatal depression. We conducted in-depth interviews with 22 women who screened positive for depression using a locally validated Chichewa version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at antenatal and postnatal clinics in 1 rural and 1 urban health care setting in Lilongwe District, Malawi. We also conducted 10 key informant interviews with maternal care health workers. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. An interview guide was used to guide enquiry about perceptions of perinatal depression and health service needs. Interviews were transcribed, translated and analysed using content analysis approach. RESULTS: Perinatal depression was recognized as a common mental health problem that affected self-care activities and functioning of women in the perinatal period. Financial difficulties, relationship problems (polygamy, lack of support, neglect, and infidelity), traumatic events (intimate partner violence and loss) and fear of birth outcomes were identified as causes of depression. All study participants acknowledged the need for support and an intervention that will address the identified challenges. Additionally, they viewed strengthening the health delivery system as crucial to effectively address their needs and gaps identified in the system. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support plans to develop a family focused intervention for perinatal depression in Malawi addressing relationship, psychosocial and economic issues. It also highlights the importance of strengthening the health delivery system especially at primary care level where the majority of women access care in Malawi and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Culture , Depression/ethnology , Depression/therapy , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Pregnancy Complications/ethnology , Pregnancy Complications/therapy , Qualitative Research , Adult , Community Health Workers/psychology , Delivery of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Depression/psychology , Family , Female , Humans , Malawi/ethnology , Male , Middle Aged , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/psychology , Pregnancy Outcome , Social Support , Young Adult
BACKGROUND: Depression is a global problem, affecting populations worldwide, but is too often under-diagnosed. The identification of depression among patients with diabetes is important because depression is prevalent in this group and can complicate diabetes management. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the PHQ-9 in the detection of depression among patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus attending non-communicable diseases (NCD) clinics in Malawi. METHODS: We conducted a validation study of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) among 323 patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus who attended two NCD clinics in one of the 28 districts of Malawi. The participants were screened consecutively using the nine-item PHQ-9 in Chichewa by a research assistant and completed a diagnostic interview using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) for depression with a mental health clinician. We evaluated both content validity based on expert judgement and criterion validity of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) based on performance against the SCID. The PHQ-9 cutpoint that maximized sensitivity plus specificity was selected to report test characteristics. RESULTS: Using the SCID for depression, the prevalence of minor or major depression was 41% (133/323). The internal consistency estimate for the PHQ-9 was 0.83, with an area under the receiver operator curve (AUC) of 0.93 (95% CI, [0.91-0.96]). Using the optimal cut-point of ≥9, the PHQ-9 had a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 94% in detecting both minor and major depression, with likelihood ratio-positive = 10.1 and likelihood ratio negative =0.4 as well as overall correct classification (OCC) rate of 81%. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first validation study of the PHQ-9 in NCD clinics in Malawi. Depression was highly prevalent in this sample. The PHQ-9 demonstrated reasonable accuracy in identifying cases of depression and is a useful screening tool in this setting. Health care workers in NCD clinics can use the PHQ-9 to identify depression among their patients with those having a positive screen followed up by additional diagnostic assessment to confirm diagnosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PACTR201807135104799 . Retrospectively registered on 12 July 2018.
Depression/psychology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology , Noncommunicable Diseases/psychology , Patient Health Questionnaire/standards , Adult , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Female , Health Status , Humans , Malawi , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards
Studies from several low- and middle-income countries have shown that antenatal depression may be a risk factor for poor neonatal outcomes. However, those studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa have not consistently demonstrated this association. We set out to investigate whether antenatal depression is associated with shorter duration of pregnancy and reduced newborn size in rural Malawi. Pregnant women recruited from four antenatal clinics to the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements Project-DYAD-Malawi (iLiNS-DYAD-M) randomised controlled trial of nutrient supplementation were screened for antenatal depression in the second or third trimester using a locally validated version of the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). Outcomes were duration of pregnancy, birthweight, newborn length for age z-score (LAZ), head circumference z-score, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Other potential confounding factors and predictors of birth outcome were measured and adjusted for in the analysis. 1,391 women were enrolled to the trial. 1,006/1,391 (72.3%) of these women completed an SRQ and gave birth to a singleton infant whose weight was measured within 2 weeks of birth. 143/1,006 (14.2%) scored SRQ ≥ 8, indicating likely depression. Antenatal depression was not associated with birth weight, duration of pregnancy, newborn LAZ, or head-circumference Z-score. There was an inverse association with newborn MUAC (adjusted mean difference - 0.2 cm (95% CI -0.4 to 0, p = 0.021) the significance of which is unclear. The study was conducted within a randomised controlled trial of nutritional supplementation and there was a high proportion of missing data in some enrolment sites; this may have affected the validity of our findings.
Depression/epidemiology , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications/psychology , Adult , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Malawi/epidemiology , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Rural Population , Time Factors , Young Adult
Background: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) affects approximately 18 million children under the age of five and is associated with more than 500 thousand deaths per year. Existing research has indicated that a high number of caregivers of children admitted for inpatient treatment of SAM experience psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and suicidality. However, no published studies in Malawi have been undertaken to qualitatively explore caregivers' perceptions and experiences regarding their children's malnutrition and inpatient treatment. Aim: To explore caregivers' perceptions and experiences surrounding childhood acute malnutrition and the experience of inpatient care in Malawi. Methods: Interviews were conducted utilising a semi-structured topic guide and were coded using thematic analysis. Results: Caregivers (N=30) gave informed consent to participate in interviews. Caregiver understanding and perceptions of their children's illness varied. Some caregivers identified a physical cause, with a minority identifying lack of dietary protein. Other narratives were around characteristics of the infant, other circumstantial events and religious and spiritual influences. One-third of caregivers described their own health difficulties and marital and relationship stressors. Challenges such as poverty, lack of access to food, poor food variability and competing demands for caregiver time were explained. Both positive and negative experiences of family and community support and hospital-based care were reported. Conclusion: The themes identified contribute to a greater contextual understanding of the multifactorial and integrated approaches required to address malnutrition. This study indicates that healthcare providers need to take a multi-faceted view of malnutrition and be aware of the many factors that may influence healthcare experience and response to treatment. Acknowledging pluralistic belief systems may improve engagement with care. This demands a broader appreciation of perceptions and experiences of malnutrition, hospital-based care, sources of support and stressors within the caregiver, family and community environment as well as consideration of social determinants such as poverty and how these influences present within a clinical context.
Caregivers/psychology , Inpatients/statistics & numerical data , Malnutrition/diet therapy , Perception , Severe Acute Malnutrition/diet therapy , Adult , Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Child, Preschool , Female , Focus Groups , Humans , Infant , Malawi , Male , Malnutrition/diagnosis , Qualitative Research , Severe Acute Malnutrition/diagnosis
BACKGROUND: Previous reviews have identified 44 risk factors for poor early child development (ECD) in low- and middle-income countries. Further understanding of their relative influence and pathways is needed to inform the design of interventions targeting ECD. METHODS: We conducted path analyses of factors associated with 18-month language and motor development in four prospective cohorts of children who participated in trials conducted as part of the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS) Project in Ghana (n = 1,023), Malawi (n = 675 and 1,385), and Burkina Faso (n = 1,122). In two cohorts, women were enrolled during pregnancy. In two cohorts, infants were enrolled at 6 or 9 months. In multiple linear regression and structural equation models (SEM), we examined 22 out of 44 factors identified in previous reviews, plus 12 additional factors expected to be associated with ECD. RESULTS: Out of 42 indicators of the 34 factors examined, 6 were associated with 18-month language and/or motor development in 3 or 4 cohorts: child linear and ponderal growth, variety of play materials, activities with caregivers, dietary diversity, and child hemoglobin/iron status. Factors that were not associated with child development were indicators of maternal Hb/iron status, maternal illness and inflammation during pregnancy, maternal perceived stress and depression, exclusive breastfeeding during 6 months postpartum, and child diarrhea, fever, malaria, and acute respiratory infections. Associations between socioeconomic status and language development were consistently mediated to a greater extent by caregiving practices than by maternal or child biomedical conditions, while this pattern for motor development was not consistent across cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Key elements of interventions to ensure quality ECD are likely to be promotion of caregiver activities with children, a variety of play materials, and a diverse diet, and prevention of faltering in linear and ponderal growth and improvement in child hemoglobin/iron status.
Child Development/physiology , Child Rearing , Hemoglobins/analysis , Iron/blood , Maternal Health/statistics & numerical data , Models, Statistical , Burkina Faso , Child, Preschool , Female , Ghana , Humans , Infant , Language Development , Malawi , Male , Prospective Studies
