Promoting Mental Wellbeing Among Pregnant and Postpartum Adolescents: A Toolkit for Adolescents Living in Urban Poor Environments.

Abstract

About one in five of women aged between 15 and 49 years old experience a mental disorder in antepartum and postpartum period in developing countries where routine screening and treatment are sometimes not prioritized due to other competing health issues needing urgent attention. The prevalence of mental health disorders is even higher among pregnant adolescents who face constant stigmatization from society and peers. This paper reports on an innovative toolkit for maternal mental healthpromotion among pregnant and postpartum (2 years post-delivery) adolescent girls. The toolkit is intended to provide pregnant and postpartum adolescent girls with the knowledge, problem-solving skills, coping mechanisms and confidence they need to protect their mental health during pregnancy and early motherhood.