Perceived social support and depression among pregnant and child-rearing teenagers in Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background The mental strain of pregnancy and child-rearing can lead to depression, especially when the expectant mother is also a teenager who will need robust social support to adequately cope with motherhood at this vulnerable stage of life. In Nigeria, teenage pregnancy and motherhood can prevent them from acquiring an education or the skills to earn money, and many teenage mothers struggle with depression and other health issues. Aim To assess the relationship between perceived social support and level of depression among pregnant and child-rearing teenagers in the Ife East Local Government Area, Southwest Nigeria. Methods A descriptive study design was employed and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit response from 120 pregnant and child-rearing teenagers who were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were computed on sociodemographic characteristics, level of perceived social support, and level of depression among respondents. The Pearson correlation test was used to assess the relationship between perceived social support and level of depression. Findings More than half (54.2%) of the respondents reported a moderate level of perceived social support, and few respondents (12.5%) reported that they received low social support. Many (44.2%) of the respondents reported no depression, and few respondents (10.0%) were categorised as severely depressed. The study found a significant, moderately strong, negative correlation between respondents' level of social support and depression (r=−0.510, P=<0.0001). Conclusion There is a significant association between the level of perceived social support received and the development of depression among pregnant and child-rearing teenagers in Nigeria. Hence, there is an urgent need for appropriate community health information, education and programmes to facilitate support for pregnant and child-rearing teenagers. This will help to reduce depression and improve health outcomes for teenage mothers.