Prevalence and factors associated with maternal loneliness during the postpartum period in Gondar city
Azmeraw Ambachew Kebede,
Dereje Nibret Gessesse,
Nuhamin Tesfa Tsega,
Mastewal Belayneh Aklil,
Wubedle Zelalem Temesgan,
Marta Yimam Abegaz,
Tazeb Alemu Anteneh,
Nebiyu Solomon Tibebu,
Haymanot Nigatu Alemu,
Tsion Tadesse Haile,
Asmra Tesfahun Seyoum,
Agumas Eskezia Tiguh,
Ayenew Engida Yismaw,
Muhabaw Shumye Mihret,
Goshu Nenko,
Kindu Yinges Wondie,
Birhan Tsegaw Taye
Affiliations
Azmeraw Ambachew Kebede
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Corresponding author.
Dereje Nibret Gessesse
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Nuhamin Tesfa Tsega
Department of Women’s and Family Health, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Mastewal Belayneh Aklil
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Wubedle Zelalem Temesgan
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Marta Yimam Abegaz
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Tazeb Alemu Anteneh
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Nebiyu Solomon Tibebu
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Haymanot Nigatu Alemu
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Tsion Tadesse Haile
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Asmra Tesfahun Seyoum
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Agumas Eskezia Tiguh
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Ayenew Engida Yismaw
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Muhabaw Shumye Mihret
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Goshu Nenko
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Kindu Yinges Wondie
Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Birhan Tsegaw Taye
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia
Background: Mental health problems have increased worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Currently, loneliness is widely understood as a painful subjective experience when the social connections a person has do not meet their interpersonal needs in respect to the quality or quantity of friendship or social interaction. It has been linked to unpleasant health consequences for both the mother and child. Therefore, this study aimed to assess maternal loneliness during the postpartum period and associated factors in Gondar city. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1st to August 30th, 2021 in Gondar city. A cluster sampling technique was employed to select 858 postpartum women. Data were entered into epidemiological data (EPI data) version 4.6 and exported to SPSS 25 for further cleaning and analysis. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was fitted to identify factors associated with maternal loneliness during the postpartum period. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its 95 % confidence interval (CI) was performed and the level of significance was claimed based on a p-value of ≤0.05. Results: A total of 858 women were included in the analysis, giving a response rate of 98.4%. Two-fifths (40.9%) of the study participants have experienced loneliness during the postpartum period (95% CI: 37.6, 44.2). Low household decision-making power (AOR = 11.2; 95% CI: 7.59, 16.4) and poor social support (AOR = 2.44; 95 CI: 1.58, 3.76) were significantly associated with maternal loneliness. Conclusion: In this study, 4 out of 10 women have experienced loneliness during the postpartum period. Thus, it highlights the potential risks of the mother’s loneliness on her postnatal well-being, particularly if the woman has poor social support and low household decision-making power. Encouraging women to be involved in all aspects of the household decision-making and promoting the need for social support for all women during the postpartum period may be optimal initial targets to reduce the impact of loneliness.
