Prevalence of Depression and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Young Women at DIMAMO in Limpopo Province (2021–2022) ^†

Introduction: Since depression in young pregnant women affects both mothers and their unborn children, it is a serious public health concern. A lack of thorough research on the subject and conflicting priorities have prevented it from receiving priority intervention in many low- and middle-income nations. Thus, the current study looks into the incidence of depression and related characteristics among young pregnant women in rural Limpopo Province of South Africa’s Dikgale, Mamabolo and Mothapo (DIMAMO). Methods: This was a retrospective quantitative study consisting of 352 young pregnant women aged 14 to 22. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was employed to assess depression. Less than 0.05 was the threshold for statistical significance. Results: The mean age of young pregnant women was 18.4 years, and most of the participants reported that they had financial support. The majority of young pregnant women had experienced partner domestic violence at 90.9%, and their pregnancies were mostly reported as unplanned at 81.8%. Drinking alcohol and smoking were found to be prevalent among young pregnant women. It was discovered that the general prevalence of depression was 42.8%. Drinking alcohol, partner financial support, HIV-positive status and unplanned pregnancies have been proven to have a strong correlation with depression. Conclusions: A multifaceted approach that addresses all of the health issues that young pregnant women face is necessary to achieve holistic health, with a focus on mental health, behavior modification, communication towards a healthy lifestyle, and a supportive social environment where young pregnant women can learn life skills.