They are too often forgotten and relegated to an afterthought – their plight unheard, their future uncertain. They are the women in South Africa’s low- and middle-income communities who suffer from perinatal mental health issues, and the North-West University (NWU) is putting their needs in the spotlight.

Perinatal mental health issues are emotional or mental struggles that mothers may face during pregnancy or after childbirth, such as depression, anxiety or stress. These challenges can affect the mother’s well-being, the baby’s development and the family’s stability. Addressing these issues is vital to ensure healthier moms, stronger babies and supportive families.

Dr Patience Kovane from the Quality in Nursing and Midwifery (NuMIQ) research focus area in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the NWU has made it her mission to promote the mental health of these often-overlooked women.

“Many women are unaware that they have a mental illness because people usually brush it off as perinatal blues. It is important to recognise and assess mental health illness in the perinatal period at an early stage,” she explains.

“I focus on perinatal mental health, which is the mental health of women from the onset of pregnancy until one year post birth. My aim is to conduct cutting-edge research and contribute to the body of knowledge that advances evidence-based practices that will further help to address perinatal mental health issues. This will positively contribute to happy mothers and healthy infants in these communities.”

According to her, research indicates that one in five women experiences mental health illness during the perinatal period. In South Africa, perinatal mental health issues like depression and anxiety affect many women due to social, economic and cultural challenges. Poverty, limited healthcare access and stigma worsen the problem, impacting mothers, babies, and families. Addressing these issues is crucial to improve maternal well-being and child development across communities.

“Globally, perinatal women face significant psychological challenges, often exacerbated by disparities in healthcare access, socioeconomic factors and cultural influences. In low- and middle-income countries, these challenges are particularly severe, especially following pregnancy loss, where support systems are often lacking,” she says.

“I am proposing a PhD study to develop and validate psycho-educational guidelines aimed at supporting perinatal women who experience pregnancy loss (miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death) in the North West region. Many women in this situation receive little to no support from the healthcare system.”

In addition, this project seeks to raise awareness among midwives, enabling them to assess, prevent, and recognise mental health issues during the perinatal period at an early stage. Through capacity-building workshops, the project aims to educate both midwives and perinatal women on mental wellness.

“This initiative has the potential to strengthen health systems by equipping healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills to integrate perinatal mental healthcare into routine antenatal visits. Ultimately, the project seeks to improve the quality of care and support for women during this critical period,” she concludes.

No longer forgotten, no longer an afterthought.

Dr Patience Kovane