MATERNAL DEPRESSION: INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY, AND UTILIZATION OF PRENATAL CARE AS PREDICTORS FOR MATERNAL DEPRESSIVE OUTCOMES IN RURAL MALAWI

Open Access
- Author:
- Barnes, Madisyn
- Area of Honors:
- Biobehavioral Health
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Cara L Exten, Thesis Supervisor
Helen Marie Kamens, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- maternal depresssion
intimate partner violence
prenatal care
reproductive autonomy - Abstract:
- Maternal depression threatens the well-being of being of mothers around the world, yet mothers in developing nations have been shown to be at greater risk of developing depressive symptoms (Fisher et al., 2012; Rahman, Iqbal, & Harrington, 2003). Although maternal depression is prevalent worldwide, the factors that influence the development of depressive symptoms may vary. Previous research has identified intimate partner violence, lack of reproductive autonomy, and less utilization of prenatal care resources as significant factors contributing to the development of maternal depressive symptoms, although no previous research has explored these factors collectively (Abajobir, Maravilla, Alati, & Najman, 2016; Gauthier, Guay, Senécal, & Pierce, 2010; Mendonça & Ludermir, 2017). The purpose of this thesis was to assess the relationship between physical intimate partner violence (IPV), reproductive autonomy, and utilization of prenatal care and maternal depressive symptoms for mothers living in rural Malawi. As part of a larger cohort study, Umoyo wa Thanzi (UTHA) [Health for Life], 728 mothers with children under 5 years of age provided responses to survey questions regarding depressive symptoms, physical IPV, reproductive autonomy, and utilization of care. Hypotheses tests (chi-square and independent samples t-test) were performed in order to explore the relationship between physical IPV, reproductive autonomy, and utilization of prenatal care with depressive symptoms. Slightly more than a third of participants (n=240, 34%) provided responses for positive maternal depressive symptoms. This study revealed that physical IPV was significantly associated with maternal depressive symptoms (X2=24.46, p<.001). No significant relationships i were found between maternal depressive symptoms and reproductive autonomy or between depressive symptoms and utilization of prenatal care. This study provides insight for potential targets to prevent the development of maternal depression for mothers living in rural Malawi and highlights the need for further research that may support the development of culturally-relevant mental health support systems.