Original Research Articles
Knowledge and Perception of Puerperal Psychosis among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Abraka, Nigeria
- Authors
- Abstract
-
Background: Puerperal psychosis is a rare but life-threatening postpartum psychiatric emergency that poses substantial risks to both mothers and their infants if not recognized and managed promptly. This study assessed the knowledge and perceptions of puerperal psychosis among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 pregnant women attending selected antenatal clinics in Abraka, Delta State, between January and March 2025. Participants were selected using simple random sampling from antenatal clinic registers. Data were collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire that was validated through expert review and demonstrated good internal consistency in a pilot study. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants' characteristics and responses, while chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were employed to identify factors associated with adequate knowledge. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Although 72.0% of respondents had previously heard of puerperal psychosis, only 48.0% demonstrated adequate knowledge of the condition (knowledge score ≥70%). Educational attainment was significantly associated with knowledge level (χ²(3) = 12.4, p = 0.006). After adjusting for potential confounders, women with tertiary education were more than twice as likely to possess adequate knowledge compared with those without formal education. In addition, 60.0% of participants expressed supportive attitudes toward women affected by puerperal psychosis, although misconceptions persisted, with some respondents attributing the condition to spiritual causes.
Conclusion: While general awareness of puerperal psychosis among pregnant women in Abraka was relatively high, comprehensive knowledge of the disorder remained inadequate. Educational attainment was an independent predictor of adequate knowledge. Incorporating structured maternal mental health education into routine antenatal care may enhance early recognition, reduce stigma, and encourage timely access to appropriate healthcare services, thereby improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.
- References
-
1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
2. Smith M, Brown L, Davies R. Global prevalence and risk factors of postpartum psychosis: A systematic review. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2023; 10(5):402–410.
3. Ekanem A, Nwachukwu C. Maternal mental health literacy and postpartum psychiatric conditions among Nigerian women. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2022; 25(4):512–519.
4. Ogunleye O, James B. Awareness and perception of postpartum psychiatric disorders among women attending antenatal clinics in South-Western Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2021; 25(3):76–84.
5. Adeyemi A, Eze I. Postpartum psychiatric disorders and maternal outcomes in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry. 2022;20(2):105–112.
6. Polit DF, Beck CT. Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. 12th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2021.
7. Cochran WG. Sampling Techniques. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1977.
8. IBM Corp. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp; 2017.
9. Olatunji S, Adeyemi A, Akinwale O. Knowledge of postpartum mental disorders among pregnant women in Lagos, Nigeria. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 2021; 15:35.
10. Ogunleye O, James B. Awareness and perception of postpartum psychiatric disorders among women attending antenatal clinics in South-Western Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2021; 25(3): 76–84.
11. Boateng K, Mensah J, Owusu F. Perception of postpartum psychiatric conditions among women in Ghana. African Journal of Reproductive Health. 2021; 25(2): 112–120.
12. Polit DF, Beck CT. Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. 12th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2021.
- Cover Image
-
- Downloads
- Published
- 10-07-2026
- Section
- Original Research Articles
-
Give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the journal.
-
Provide a link to the license.
-
Indicate if changes were made.
-
Distribute their contributions under the same license as the original.
-
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
-
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material.
-
Attribution required — must credit author(s) and journal.
-
NonCommercial — no commercial use permitted.
-
ShareAlike — derivative works must use the same license.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Emerging Frontiers in Translational Biomedicine and Health Sciences
All content published in Emerging Frontiers in Translational Biomedicine and Health Sciences (EFTBHS) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
This license allows others to remix, adapt, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as they:
Under this license, users may not use the material for commercial purposes.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication. Authors may enter into separate, non-exclusive agreements for non-commercial distribution (e.g., in institutional repositories or course materials) with acknowledgment of the initial publication in EFTBHS.
For details, visit the official Creative Commons page:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Summary of permissions under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0:
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Anthonia Confidence Oguguo Onyenwenyi, Goodness Ogheneochuko Ayovo-E, Eseoghene Eric Onakpoya, Courage Sisi, Determinants of Nursing Students' Attitudes towards Clinical Posting at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria , Emerging Frontiers in Translational Biomedicine and Health Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): Advancing Translational Biomedical Research through Innovation, and Clinical Discovery