A recent study has revealed alarming rates of mental health distress among pregnant women and frontline health workers in Ghana, highlighting the need for urgent integration of mental health screening and support into primary healthcare services.
The study, led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service Research and Development Division (GHS RDD), found that 28% of over 2,000 antenatal and postnatal women screened showed signs of mental health distress, with 5% reporting suicidal thoughts.
Pregnant adolescents and mothers between 14-19 years were particularly vulnerable, with 43% scoring above the threshold for mental distress. Frontline health workers also reported high levels of anxiety (51%), depression (37%), and stress (40%) ¹.
The study’s findings have prompted calls for the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service to revise national reproductive health guidelines to include routine maternal mental health screening and establish clear policy and budgetary support for frontline health worker wellbeing.
“Maternal and health worker mental health is not a luxury—it is foundational to achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Professor Irene Agyepong, Co-Principal Investigator of the study.
The study piloted two innovative interventions: rapid mental health screening of pregnant and postnatal women, and voluntary self-screening for frontline staff via a mobile app. The results showed that these interventions are feasible and scalable, but highlighted the need for more robust follow-up mechanisms.
Follow-up Questions:
- What specific steps can be taken to address the stigma surrounding mental health in Ghana?
- How can Ghana’s healthcare system be strengthened to provide sustainable mental health support for pregnant women and health workers?
