Picture: Dr Patience Kovane from North West University/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
5 December 2024- The North West University (NWU) said rural women are too often forgotten and relegated to an afterthought regarding mental health. The university said their plight unheard, their future uncertain.
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. Kovane said women in South Africa’s low- and middle-income communities suffer from perinatal mental health issues.
“The university 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,’ she said.
Kovane further said many women are unaware that they have a mental illness because people usually brush it off as perinatal blues. She added that it is important to recognise and assess mental health illness in the perinatal period at an early stage.
“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 research, one in five women experiences mental health illness during the perinatal period,” said Kovane.
She said in South Africa, perinatal mental health issues like depression and anxiety affect many women due to social, economic and cultural challenges. Kovane said 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. 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,” she said.
Kovane said many women in this situation receive little to no support from the healthcare system. She said 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” said Kovane.
She said ultimately, the project seeks to improve the quality of care and support for women during this critical period. Kovane said no longer forgotten, no longer an afterthought.
The Guardian 