Unveiling Barriers to Maternal Mental Health In Pakistan: Knowledge, Attitudes and Stigmas Towards Postpartum Depression in Social Support Systems

Jawaria Shahzad¹Laiba Nazim¹Laraib Hussain¹Hurais Malik¹Rozina Mustafa¹Muhammad Abdullah²Mah Zaib Masood Awaisi³Muhammad Usama Jamil³Syed Hassan Ahmed⁴Abdul Rehman¹Muhammad Hudaib¹. Manahil⁵Ahmad Umais Ahad⁵Khabab Abbasher Hussien Mohamed Ahmed^6*

• ¹Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan
• ²CMH Lahore Medical College, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
• ³Nishtar Medical College, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
• ⁴Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Punjab, Pakistan
• ⁵Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
• ⁶University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) poses a significant mental health concern for mothers globally. Despite a substantial prevalence, PPD often goes undetected and untreated, particularly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Pakistan. This study assesses the knowledge and attitudes towards postpartum depression among the social support system of pregnant women in Pakistan.A cross-sectional study was conducted at three healthcare institutions in Pakistan, investigating the knowledge and attitudes surrounding PPD among the support system of gravidarum women. Participants included a diverse sample of 363 individuals, above 18 years forming the social support system for pregnant women. Data were collected through interviews using validated questionnaires, providing insights into their demographic profiles, knowledge, and attitudes toward PPD. IBM-SPSS version 26.0 was used for data analysis, employing statistical tests like Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Spearman correlation to examine associations.The sample (N=363) was demographically diverse, with participants aged 18-60 years, predominantly urban-dwelling (83.5%), educational levels ranged from uneducated (19.6%) to higher education (38%). Findings reveal a moderate level of awareness (44.6%) but a negative attitude (47.5%) towards PPD among participants. Stigmatizing concerns regarding disclosure highlights the need for non-judgmental support, while positive attitudes towards non-mystical explanations (Black Magic and Jinns) of PPD suggest progress in mental health understanding.This study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address the stigma surrounding PPD and promote supportive environments for pregnant women in Pakistan. Enhancing awareness and fostering open dialogue about PPD within social support networks can play a crucial role in mitigating its impact on maternal mental health.