THE IMPROVEMENT OF PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES THROUGH AN INTERVENTION STUDY IN NIGERIAN NAVY REFERENCE HOSPITALS IN NIGERIA

 Nwachukwu, Ijeoma

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 Prof. NOREEN Agbapuonwu

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 Dr. O. Altride

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Okere, Chigozie Christiana

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Department of Midwifery and Child Health

Nursing, Africa Center for Excellence Public

Health and Toxicological Research,

University of Port Harcourt,

Rivers State, Nigeria

 Anele, Ezebunwo

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ORCID ID: https:/orcid.org/0009-0005-0416-3709

Department of Educational Psychology

University of Calabar

Abstract

The study investigated the improvement of perinatal mental health outcomes through an intervention study in Nigerian Navy Reference Hospitals in Nigeria. Specifically, it determined the effect of the intervention programme on perinatal mental health outcomes among pregnant and postpartum women and evaluated differences in perinatal mental health across pregnancy trimesters. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design involving pre- and post-intervention assessments. The population comprised 1,589 respondents, including pregnant women, postpartum women and midwives, while a sample of 336 respondents was selected, consisting of 18 midwives, 226 pregnant women and 92 postpartum women. Stratified and accidental sampling techniques were employed. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire titled “Improving Perinatal Mental Health Outcomes Questionnaire (IPMHOQ).” The instrument contained 30 items, was validated by experts in Nursing Science and Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation, and yielded Cronbach Alpha coefficients ranging from .70 to .72. The intervention involved mental health education, group counselling and routine mental health screening. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance and one-way Analysis of Variance at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the intervention programme significantly improved perinatal mental health outcomes, F(4, 313) = 389.682, p < .05, while significant differences also existed across the trimesters, F(2, 223) = 27.570, p < .05. The study recommended integrating structured perinatal mental health interventions into routine antenatal and postnatal care.

Keywords: Intervention Programme; Perinatal Mental Health; Pregnant Women; Postpartum Women; Trimesters. DOWNLOAD PDF