BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE– Pregnant women and new mothers need emotional support alongside physical healthcare, as stress, depression and other mental health conditions can affect a woman’s wellbeing and influence the health and development of her baby.
Speaking on the Kusile Breakfast Show on Eswatini TV, Ministry of Health representative Vusi Shabangu highlighted the importance of paying attention to a woman’s mental health before, during and after pregnancy.
“When a woman is pregnant, it actually means there are two people in one life. If a pregnant mother is stressed, it affects the baby as well, because the baby lives through the mother,” said Shabangu.
He explained that a mother’s mental and emotional wellbeing can influence pregnancy and the development of the unborn baby.
“Sometimes it can even affect the baby’s growth inside the mother. That is why it is important for a woman to check her mental state before pregnancy, so that if she falls pregnant, she can be in the right state,” he said.
Scientific evidence supports the importance of maternal mental health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that about one in five women experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth. WHO also notes that untreated maternal mental health conditions can affect infant physical and emotional development.
However, mental distress should not automatically be interpreted as causing a disability in a baby. Pregnancy outcomes are influenced by many biological, medical, social and environmental factors. The evidence shows that severe or prolonged maternal mental health problems can increase risks to maternal and child wellbeing rather than providing a simple cause and effect explanation for disability.
Shabangu also emphasised the role of fathers, partners and other people responsible for supporting the pregnancy.
He said some women may struggle emotionally when they discover that they are pregnant unexpectedly, particularly when the pregnancy was not planned.
“Some women do not accept an unplanned pregnancy, which affects their pregnancy. They may even try to terminate the pregnancy on purpose. They need family support, not people judging the individual,” Shabangu said.
He said women may experience embarrassment, shame or fear, making compassionate support particularly important.
“Let us avoid using words that kill the individual,” he added.
The WHO recommends psychosocial and psychological support during antenatal and postnatal care to help women manage stress, develop coping strategies and build supportive networks.
Postpartum depression, also called postnatal depression, is a depressive disorder that occurs after childbirth. It is more serious and longer-lasting than the temporary emotional changes commonly known as the “baby blues”.
A woman experiencing postpartum depression may have persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, extreme tiredness, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, anxiety or hopelessness. In severe cases, there may be thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
The condition can also affect a mother’s ability to care for herself and her baby and can interfere with bonding, breastfeeding and infant care when severe or prolonged.
It is important to distinguish postpartum depression from the “baby blues”, which are short-lived emotional changes that commonly occur during the first days after birth and usually resolve within about two weeks. Persistent or worsening symptoms require professional assessment.
A study conducted at the King Sobhuza II Public Health Unit in Manzini screened 114 mothers during their first six weeks after childbirth using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
The study found that 47.4% of the women screened positive for postpartum depression. Researchers also found an association between postpartum depression and poor social support from partners. Because the study used a relatively small, convenience sample from one facility, its findings should not be treated as a national prevalence figure for all women in Eswatini.
This evidence nevertheless highlights why maternal mental health should be taken seriously within antenatal and postnatal services.
Mental health support does not have to wait until a woman reaches a psychiatric hospital. WHO recommends integrating maternal mental health into general healthcare, including maternal and child health and reproductive health services. Health workers who are not mental-health specialists can also be trained to identify and manage common maternal mental health conditions, with referral where necessary.
WHO recommends postnatal contacts with health workers during the first six weeks after birth, including assessment for maternal depression and anxiety and referral or management when concerns are identified.
Eswatini is also strengthening its broader mental health response. In February 2026, WHO published Eswatini’s National Health Sector Response Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injuries and Mental Health, signalling the inclusion of mental health within the country’s health-sector response.
For pregnant women and new mothers, the message is therefore clear: emotional wellbeing is part of maternal healthcare. Families, partners and communities have a role to play by listening without judgement, offering practical support and encouraging women experiencing persistent emotional distress to speak to a healthcare professional.
A mother should not have to suffer silently simply because everyone expects childbirth to be a happy experience.
#MaternalMentalHealth #PostpartumDepression #EswatiniHealth #EswatiniTV
(Courtesy Pic)
