HARARE — A maternal mental health communication campaign has been launched in Zimbabwe to improve public understanding of mental health linked to pregnancy and after-birth experiences, while calling on authorities to conduct awareness campaigns and integrate mental health into maternal health care services as a way to mitigate myths surrounding the matter.
The myths are commonly linked to the postpartum period after women give birth and include expectations to bounce back to pre-baby body and energy levels quickly, while facts indicate that full tissue healing, hormonal re-balancing, and physical recovery extend far beyond the standard six-week checkup and every body heals at its own pace.
The campaign, running from October until January next year, seeks to improve support for affected mothers by bringing dignified, compassionate, and comprehensive care throughout pregnancy and motherhood.
Stigma and under-recognition
Addressing guests during a "Mind Her Health" campaign media cafe in Harare recently, Community Working Group on Health Executive Chairperson Maria Chiwera said the development comes after the realisation that maternal mental health issues remain under-recognised and are surrounded by stigma.
The campaign is expected to run for four months across the country, with each month carrying various key messages including pregnancy, postnatal wellbeing and support, mental and reproductive health.
It also seeks to increase access to accurate, evidence-based information through various platforms such as radio, television, podcasts, and online.
Finally, the campaign aims to identify and respond to recurring myths, questions, and knowledge gaps regarding maternal health.
Understanding maternal mental health
Maternal mental health involves high rates of perinatal depression and anxiety, significantly constrained by limited specialist resources, social stigma, economic pressures, and grief from child loss, stillbirths, or infertility.
To mitigate the effects of maternal mental health challenges, some civil organisations work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to provide antenatal and postnatal counselling, trauma support, and maternal mental health training.
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