Prevalence and social determinants of perinatal mental health disorders in the Southwest Region of Cameroon

Prevalence and social determinants of perinatal mental health disorders in the Southwest Region of Cameroon | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Prevalence and social determinants of perinatal mental health disorders in the Southwest Region of Cameroon Jude Tsafack Zefack, Ashu Martha Agbornyenty, Mbah Larissa Akeh, and 8 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9157657/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background: Perinatal mental health disorders are a growing public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to care and sociocultural factors may exacerbate vulnerability. This study examined the prevalence and social determinants of perinatal depression and anxiety among women in the South West Region of Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 2024 to March 2025 among 150 pregnant and postpartum women recruited from healthcare facilities and community settings. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics, social and cultural determinants, healthcare access, and two frequency-based mental health screening items, conceptually informed by the PHQ-2 and GAD-2. A custom scoring system classified participants as having probable depression or anxiety when symptom frequency scores were ≥ 2. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to examine associations between mental health symptoms and sociodemographic, social, cultural, and healthcare-related factors. Results: Approximately 14.7% of participants met criteria for probable depression and 21.3% for probable anxiety. Nearly half reported depressive or anxiety symptoms on several days within the past two weeks. Depression was significantly associated with age, marital status, and employment status, while anxiety was significantly associated with family support, stigma and discrimination, and the perceived impact of the sociopolitical crisis. Regular antenatal and postnatal care attendance demonstrated a protective association for both depression and anxiety. Conclusion: The study reveals a substantial burden of perinatal depression and anxiety among women in the South West Region of Cameroon. These mental health outcomes are closely tied to social, economic, cultural, and conflict-related factors. Integrating routine mental health screening into antenatal care, enhancing family support systems, and addressing stigma could improve maternal well-being. Perinatal mental health Depression Anxiety Cameroon Social determinants Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 05 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 03 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 26 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 20 Apr, 2026 Editor invited by journal 01 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 31 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 26 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 26 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9157657","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":630346505,"identity":"9ce2e292-afa4-4078-ab36-63ffb5e419b9","order_by":0,"name":"Jude Tsafack Zefack","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Social Epidemiology Lab e.V","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jude","middleName":"Tsafack","lastName":"Zefack","suffix":""},{"id":630346508,"identity":"2c34c116-dbd6-4605-9920-64433fcbd32d","order_by":1,"name":"Ashu Martha Agbornyenty","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"For Mom and Baby Foundation","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ashu","middleName":"Martha","lastName":"Agbornyenty","suffix":""},{"id":630346510,"identity":"5e8ae432-a821-48f2-8119-f703cc0ed8fb","order_by":2,"name":"Mbah Larissa Akeh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"For Mom and Baby Foundation","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mbah","middleName":"Larissa","lastName":"Akeh","suffix":""},{"id":630346513,"identity":"19f29a4a-ed68-4584-afa0-e04f4c8c5e3b","order_by":3,"name":"Odette Dzemo Kibu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Odette","middleName":"Dzemo","lastName":"Kibu","suffix":""},{"id":630346514,"identity":"49dd9c96-7e49-431a-a603-2aa025355dbb","order_by":4,"name":"Faustus Ajamah","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Social Epidemiology Lab e.V","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Faustus","middleName":"","lastName":"Ajamah","suffix":""},{"id":630346515,"identity":"27dff91b-1518-44c7-bd14-0d123b0d33a4","order_by":5,"name":"Selouis Fuanyi Nkengfua","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Selouis","middleName":"Fuanyi","lastName":"Nkengfua","suffix":""},{"id":630346516,"identity":"cecaf2cb-f758-4bb4-9739-ae0d511df6ee","order_by":6,"name":"Cynthia-Edith Ara-Nabangi Ndive","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Social Epidemiology Lab e.V","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Cynthia-Edith","middleName":"Ara-Nabangi","lastName":"Ndive","suffix":""},{"id":630346517,"identity":"ef65c710-2587-4642-9111-03b77f5087e3","order_by":7,"name":"Esua Alphonsius Fotindong","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Esua","middleName":"Alphonsius","lastName":"Fotindong","suffix":""},{"id":630346518,"identity":"d805f411-b33c-4502-a5c5-0b3d67f5f926","order_by":8,"name":"Shanika Jerger Butts","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Public Health, Davidson College","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shanika","middleName":"Jerger","lastName":"Butts","suffix":""},{"id":630346519,"identity":"515cd65e-8639-4958-a556-26aec19d3056","order_by":9,"name":"Brittney Francis","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Brittney","middleName":"","lastName":"Francis","suffix":""},{"id":630346520,"identity":"6a7a04f4-3c49-4cf5-b0c5-b76ab5c4cb56","order_by":10,"name":"Jaime C. Slaughter-Acey","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Doctoral Nursing Programs, College of Nursing \u0026 Health Professions, Drexel University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jaime","middleName":"C.","lastName":"Slaughter-Acey","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-18 09:53:15","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9157657/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9157657/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108182190,"identity":"a1920c04-4360-4eda-bfc9-c651c45dd53e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-30 08:59:12","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":364195,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"RevisedManuscript2.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9157657/v1_covered_5dc36f62-52e4-45ec-865b-56552d8d5098.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Prevalence and social determinants of perinatal mental health disorders in the Southwest Region of Cameroon","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)","snPcode":"12982","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3","title":"Discover Public Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Perinatal mental health, Depression, Anxiety, Cameroon, Social determinants","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9157657/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9157657/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePerinatal mental health disorders are a growing public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to care and sociocultural factors may exacerbate vulnerability. This study examined the prevalence and social determinants of perinatal depression and anxiety among women in the South West Region of Cameroon.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 2024 to March 2025 among 150 pregnant and postpartum women recruited from healthcare facilities and community settings. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics, social and cultural determinants, healthcare access, and two frequency-based mental health screening items, conceptually informed by the PHQ-2 and GAD-2. A custom scoring system classified participants as having probable depression or anxiety when symptom frequency scores were \u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;2. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to examine associations between mental health symptoms and sociodemographic, social, cultural, and healthcare-related factors.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eApproximately 14.7% of participants met criteria for probable depression and 21.3% for probable anxiety. Nearly half reported depressive or anxiety symptoms on several days within the past two weeks. Depression was significantly associated with age, marital status, and employment status, while anxiety was significantly associated with family support, stigma and discrimination, and the perceived impact of the sociopolitical crisis. Regular antenatal and postnatal care attendance demonstrated a protective association for both depression and anxiety.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study reveals a substantial burden of perinatal depression and anxiety among women in the South West Region of Cameroon. These mental health outcomes are closely tied to social, economic, cultural, and conflict-related factors. Integrating routine mental health screening into antenatal care, enhancing family support systems, and addressing stigma could improve maternal well-being.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Prevalence and social determinants of perinatal mental health disorders in the Southwest Region of Cameroon","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-28 21:59:05","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9157657/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-05T12:57:39+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-03T14:23:31+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"107884099824000549224851738352630352044","date":"2026-04-26T18:10:05+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"331595137310069836772946765875204378415","date":"2026-04-23T13:36:19+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-20T13:12:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-01T13:20:27+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-03-31T10:54:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-03-26T13:23:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Public Health","date":"2026-03-26T13:17:59+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)","snPcode":"12982","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3","title":"Discover Public Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"c513a0dd-0866-4370-8711-4ab5a645594f","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 28th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-05T12:57:39+00:00","index":75,"fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-03T14:23:31+00:00","index":74,"fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-28T21:59:05+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-28 21:59:05","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9157657","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9157657","identity":"rs-9157657","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}