Reproductive mental health risk in Nigeria: myths, facts and challenges

It is widely known that Africans and especially Nigerians place much emphasis on childbearing. It has been said that the effect of childbirth relates to the society and culture’s response to parenthood and the existing family structure. Many rituals exist in African societies to signify the changes in women’s identity, roles and status during pregnancy and following childbirth. Earlier studies have suggested that perinatal emotional distress is rare among women in sub-Saharan Africa, with the supposed intact family structure in the region acting as a protective factor.