Exposure to violence, stressful life events and antenatal depression among pregnant adolescent girls and young women in Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Early pregnancy places adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) at heightened risk for health challenges particularly depression, as they navigate the developmental transition of adolescence alongside the physiologic and psychosocial demands of pregnancy. This study examined the association of antenatal depression symptoms with stressful life events and perceived social support among pregnant AGYW in Accra Metropolitan area, Ghana.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 among 336 pregnant AGYW (aged 15-24) in their third trimester. Participants were screened for antenatal depression symptoms using the patient health questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-9). Bivariate chi-square analysis and covariates-adjusted logistic regression were used to determine associations.

FINDINGS: The mean age of study participants was 20.9 years. Prevalence of antenatal depression symptoms among pregnant AGYW was 30%. Participants had increased odds of reporting antenatal depression symptoms if they had ever experienced any type of intimate partner violence (IPV) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-5.94, p = 0.024), lost a parent, child or spouse (aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.19-3.38, p = 0.009), broke off a steady relationship (aOR 2.51, 95% CI 1.45-4.35, p = 0.001), or lost a job (aOR 4.92, 95% CI 1.11-21.77, p = 0.036). Social support from a significant other was associated with a decreased odds of antenatal depression symptoms (aOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.24-0.92, p = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

Findings underscore the imperative to integrate routine psychosocial screening, systematic assessment of violence exposure and targeted support mechanisms into antenatal care pathways for improved health of young mothers and their infants.