Health
Why one in 10 new mothers suffers postpartum depression – Gynaecologists
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By Francesca Hangeior
Maternal experts have said that between 10 and 15 per cent of new mothers, especially those living in developing countries, suffer postpartum depression after childbirth.
They stated that while the exact cause was still unknown, the condition was caused by a combination of hormonal, psychological and social factors.
The gynaecologists explained that the condition which began within the first week after childbirth and could continue for a year, presented with symptoms such as persistent sadness, anxiety, loss of interest in daily activities, sleep disturbances and thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby.
Speaking in separate interviews, the maternal health experts identified women with a history of depression, unplanned pregnancies, limited social or family support, experiences of intimate partner violence, or complicated pregnancies and deliveries as being at higher risk of postpartum depression.
They further noted that the condition was preventable and treatable, urging pregnant women and new mothers to accept help, prioritise self-care and maintain social connections to ensure a smooth child-care journey.
The specialists also stated that the condition often went undiagnosed in many new mothers because a significant number do not deliver in health facilities or return for postnatal care.
Findings from several studies on PPD in Lagos, Kano and Enugu States showed a prevalence of this condition in new mothers.
The research further revealed that poor social support, perceived stress, inability to bond or breastfeed a baby, unsupportive partner and financial problems were predictors of PPD.
Commenting on the matter, an Honorary Consultant Obstetric and Gynaecologist at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa-Ibom, Prof Aniekan Abasiattai, stated that PPD was a mood disorder that affected women after childbirth and could continue for a year if left untreated.
He noted that though PPD was a common complication of childbirth, it was usually recognised until after the first two weeks of delivery.
The don further stated, “There are a few theories here and there, but the actual cause of postpartum depression is unknown. However some documented reports tend to attribute its prevalence or occurrence to be higher in the developing world when compared to the developed world. Although these figures vary, recent evidence tends to document higher prevalence or higher rates of postpartum depression in the developing world when compared to the developed world.
“Now, about 10 to 15 per cent of women, of all women worldwide, are said to develop postnatal depression. Figures in Nigeria are varying. The figures from Nigerian studies range from about 11 per cent to as high as 45.6 per cent, depending on the centres or the geographical area where these studies were conducted.”
Abasiattai further stated that the lack of awareness of the symptoms by the new mothers and some physicians made the situation unrecognised and undiagnosed.
The professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, also mentioned that the relationship between mental health disorders and stigmatisation often made the women with the condition avoid speaking up and in some cases, visit the health centres.
The gynaecologist further explained that women who experience depression during pregnancy, face unemployment or financial difficulties, have unplanned or adolescent pregnancies, and have a history of sexual abuse, stillbirths, or maternal loss after delivery is at greater risk of developing postpartum depression.
He noted, “Those that lack support from family and friends, those that have complicated pregnancies or complicated births, those that have experienced a lot of stressful situations during pregnancy. And then, those that encounter intimate partner violence, and marital and partner conflicts. There are many more, but these are just a few of them. So, these are those that have an increased risk of coming down with postpartum depression after childbirth.”
He further noted that the prevalence of PPD in the country varied within geographical locations, noting regions, where new mothers had social, family, physical and emotional support, had reduced risk of developing the disorder.
The maternal expert further noted that while the condition was treatable, early identification and proper diagnosis were key.
He noted that the management was multidisciplinary, involving mental health physicians and nurses, obstetricians and social workers.
Speaking on the preventive measures, “Although their level of effectiveness may not have been scientifically proven, I believe that these preventive measures would assist in bringing them down. These include obtaining antenatal care because it’s been documented that women who don’t obtain formal antenatal care, the unbooked women, tend to have a higher risk of developing postpartum depression.
“So, formal antenatal care, where you come for classes and are taught about breast preparedness and complication readiness, childcare, immunisation, exclusive breastfeeding that helps promote mother and baby bonding and help reduce postpartum depression. These would help reduce anxiety about childcare after delivery.”
The researcher on Community Obstetrics and Fetomaternal Medicine also emphasised the need to promote good parenting practices and have family and social support to reduce the risk.
He urged new mothers to maintain healthy lifestyles after delivery, ensure adequate sleep and exercise and avoid alcohol and recreational drugs that could worsen mood swings and symptoms of PPD.
Also, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Christopher Aimakhu, stated that PPD was a mental health condition that often went undiagnosed and affected between 10 and 20 per cent of new mothers.
He also noted that new mothers in low-middle-income countries were at higher risk of the condition due to lack of access to healthcare, limited financial resources and social support systems.
The don stated that it was caused by a complex interplay of psychological, biological, social, genetic, and psychosocial factors.
Aimakhu also explained that the lack of family support and good antenatal and postnatal care could predispose new mothers to the condition.
Providing solutions, the gynaecologist said, “Counselling, in terms of telling them what to do, is the most important thing. It can also help prevent it before it starts. Therapy also helps. When the condition is bad, depending on the severity, they might need to use medications.
“So in terms of diagnosis, health providers must know that treatment usually takes a while. Psychotherapists may help to address her concerns, what it is that she should cope with and how she can solve the problems. You must have realistic goals and that’s why I’ll talk about prevention, because a lot of people expect too much after the delivery, especially when your husband doesn’t do what he says he’s going to do.”
He further emphasised that with proper treatment, the condition should be resolved within a short time.
To prevent the condition, he urged new mothers to accept help from family and friends, connect with other new mothers, create time to care for themselves, avoid alcohol and drugs that could cause mood swings and seek medical attention if sadness and depression persist.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has blacklisted Onifam Laboratories Limited, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, all members of its board of directors, and every affiliated or associated individual and entity found to have participated in regulatory violations, following what it described as extensive investigations into the company’s operations.
The sanction, which takes immediate effect, effectively excludes the company and all affected individuals from participating in any pharmaceutical business regulated by NAFDAC pending further directive from the agency.
In a statement signed on Monday by its Director-General/CEO, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said its investigations established that Onifam Laboratories engaged in regulatory misrepresentation, misuse of NAFDAC approvals and certificates, improper registration and transfer of pharmaceutical products, as well as activities that deliberately circumvented established regulatory procedures.
According to NAFDAC, the alleged infractions compromise product traceability, weaken accountability within the pharmaceutical supply chain and expose the public to significant health risks.
The agency said the company’s actions violate the provisions of the NAFDAC Act, the Food, Drug and Related Products (Registration, etc.) Act, the Drug and Related Products Registration Regulations 2021 and other applicable regulatory guidelines governing pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.
As part of the blacklist, Onifam Laboratories and all affected persons are prohibited from participating, either directly or indirectly, in any pharmaceutical business regulated by NAFDAC.
The prohibition extends to applying for or benefiting from any NAFDAC registration, licence, permit, certificate or approval.
It also bars them from operating as manufacturers, importers, distributors, marketing authorisation holders, agents, representatives, consultants, promoters or sponsors of any product regulated by the agency.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), whose agency announced the immediate blacklisting of Onifam Laboratories Ltd, its Managing Director, directors and affiliated entities over multiple regulatory violations/Credit: NAFDAC
The sweeping sanctions equally apply to affiliated companies and associated entities found to have been involved in the regulatory violations.
NAFDAC stated that the blacklist would remain in force until otherwise directed by its management.
The agency further warned that it reserves the right to initiate additional regulatory, administrative, enforcement and legal actions where necessary to protect public health and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s medicines regulatory system.
It stressed that the action reflects its determination to ensure strict compliance with pharmaceutical regulations and deter practices capable of undermining the safety and quality of medicines available to Nigerians.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding public health, NAFDAC urged all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to comply fully with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
The agency maintained that only safe, quality-assured and properly regulated medicines should be manufactured, imported, distributed and sold in Nigeria, warning that any attempt to bypass regulatory procedures would attract decisive sanctions.
The blacklist of Onifam Laboratories marks one of the agency’s strongest recent enforcement actions and underscores its resolve to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve accountability within the pharmaceutical industry and sustain public confidence in Nigeria’s medicines regulatory framework.
Poor funding could undermine the ability of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to deliver on its mandate, the Senate has said, insisting that the N2.9 billion monthly allocation being released to the commission is only “a drop in the ocean” compared to its N140 billion budget allocation for 2026.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission, Titus Zam, sounded the warning while briefing journalists after an interactive session between the committee and the commission’s management at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
According to him, the current monthly release would amount to less than half of the commission’s approved budget if maintained throughout the year, expressing optimism that the federal government would increase funding as the commission becomes fully operational.
“If you give someone that has a budget of N140 billion, N2.9 billion per month, in 12 months, it won’t be up to half of the entire budgetary sum,” Zam said.
“I suppose that is just a temporary package. When the commission finally comes to fruition, much more funds will be released. So we thank Mr President and the Executive for dropping something now, but we look forward to more.”
The lawmaker, however, assured that the Senate Committee would ensure the prudent utilisation of the funds already released by providing effective oversight and guiding the commission on areas of priority.
He urged the commission to focus its interventions on agriculture, security and rural development, stressing that the North Central region is largely agrarian and continues to face serious security challenges.
“North Central is mostly an agricultural land. We have arable land, we have good rainfall and vegetation. There is policy for agriculture. We need the department of NCDC to take agriculture very seriously.
“We also have a challenge of insecurity. The commission is advised to support the security forces and state governments to complement their efforts towards mitigating the tide of insecurity within the region.
“We also ask them to take rural development very seriously because we are also rural in nature,” Zam said.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Nigeria recorded an increase in confirmed Lassa fever cases during epidemiological week 26 of 2026, with 31 new infections reported, up from 22 the previous week.
The new confirmed cases were recorded in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba and Benue states, according to the latest NCDC Lassa fever situation report released by the public health agency on Friday.
The report showed that 221 deaths have been recorded cumulatively in 2026, with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 24.0 per cent, higher than the 18.7 per cent reported in 2025.
It stated that 23 states had reported at least one confirmed Lassa fever case across 111 Local Government Areas, indicating the continued geographic spread of the disease nationwide in 2026.
According to the report, 85 per cent of all confirmed cases originated from Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue states, while the remaining 15 per cent were reported elsewhere.
The report said Ondo accounted for the highest proportion of confirmed cases at 30 per cent, followed by Bauchi with 26 per cent, Taraba with 14 per cent, Edo with nine per cent, and Benue.
It revealed that people aged between 21 and 30 years remained the most affected group, although confirmed cases ranged from one to 93 years, with a median age.
The report also showed that the male-to-female ratio among confirmed cases stood at 1:0.9, suggesting nearly equal infection rates between males and females across affected states.
Health authorities noted that both suspected and confirmed Lassa fever cases increased compared with the corresponding period in 2025, while one healthcare worker was infected during week 26.
The report added that the National Lassa Fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System remains activated to coordinate surveillance, case management, risk communication and response activities nationwide.
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