Risk factors for poor mental health among adolescent mothers in South Africa

Steventon Roberts, Kathryn, Smith, Colette, Toska, Elona, Cluver, Lucie, Haag, Katharina, Wittesaele, Camille, Langwenya, Nontokozo, Jochim, Janina, Saal, Wylene, Shenderovich, Yulia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0254-3397 and Sherr, Lorraine 2022. Risk factors for poor mental health among adolescent mothers in South Africa. Psychology, Health and Medicine 27 (S1) , pp. 67-84. 10.1080/13548506.2022.2124295

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Abstract

In South Africa, high rates of adolescent pregnancy and HIV pose prominent public health challenges with potential implications for mental wellbeing. It is important to understand risk factors for mental health difficulties among adolescent mothers affected by HIV. This study aims to identify the prevalence of likely common mental disorder among adolescent mothers (both living with and not living with HIV) and explores hypothesised risk factors for likely common mental disorder. Cross-sectional data from adolescent mothers (10–19 years; n=1002) utilised within these analyses are drawn from a cohort of young mothers residing in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. All mothers completed a detailed questionnaire consisting of standardised measures of sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, and hypothesised risk factors. Logistic regression models were utilised to explore associations between hypothesised risk factors and likely common mental disorder. Risk factors were clustered within a hypothesised socioecological framework and entered into models using a stepwise sequential approach. Interaction effects with maternal HIV status were additionally explored. The prevalence of likely common mental disorder among adolescent mothers was 12.6%. Adolescent mothers living with HIV were more likely to report likely common mental disorder compared to adolescent mothers not living with HIV (16.2% vs 11.2%, X2=4.41, p=0.04). Factors associated with likely common mental disorder were any abuse exposure (OR=2.54 [95%CI:1.20–5.40], p=0.01), a lack of perceived social support (OR=4.09 [95%CI:2.48–6.74], p=<0.0001), and community violence exposure (OR=2.09 [95%CI:1.33–3.27], p=0.001). There was limited evidence of interaction effects between risk factors, and maternal HIV status. Violence exposure and a lack of perceived support are major risk factors for poor mental health among adolescent mothers in South Africa. Violence prevention interventions and social support may help to reduce risk. Identified risk factors spanning individual, interpersonal, and community levels have the potential to impact adolescent maternal mental health.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	1354-8506
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	7 October 2022
Date of Acceptance:	6 September 2022
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 02:47
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/152373

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