Mental Health of Mothers and Children's Wellbeing in Coastal Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Authors/Creators
-
1.
University of Uyo
-
2.
Akwa Ibom State University
Contributors
Researcher (3):
-
1.
University of Uyo
-
2.
Akwa Ibom State University
Description
Abstract
The impact of mothers mental health status on the wellbeing of children in the coastal communities of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was studied. The study was driven by the increasing concern of the impact of maternal mental health issues on children's development, health, and wellbeing, specifically in socio-economically disadvantaged coastal communities. Specifically, the study evaluated the socio-economic status of mothers and its implications on children's wellbeing in coastal areas of Akwa Ibom State, the effect of maternal depression on children aged below five years and the effect of maternal anxiety disorders on children's wellbeing. This study used a descriptive survey design and a qualitative research approach. The methods used in the collection of data were In-Depth interviews (IDIs), Key Informant interviews (KIIs), and Focus group discussions (FGDs). A total of 120 participants comprising of mothers who were being treated in the Psychiatric Hospital Eket, Iquita General Hospital Oron, General Hospital Ituk Mbang, and some of the traditional mental health centres in Oron, Adadia and Oku Iboku were engaged. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data based on the study objectives. The results indicated that maternal depression has a negative impact on children through emotional neglect, poor mother-child relationship, supervision, behavioural instability and developmental problems in children under 5 years. The study also revealed that the mothers' anxiety disorders result in inconsistent care and parenting, emotional insecurity, poor health-seeking practices, and susceptibility of children to neglect and abuse. It was also found that low SE status exacerbates maternal psychological distress, and restricts access to health, nutrition, education and other resources required for children's healthy development. The key factors cited as exacerbating maternal mental health problems and child wellbeing were poverty, unemployment, family instability and poor social support. The study finds that mothers' mental health status has a significant impact on the wellbeing of children in coastal communities of Akwa Ibom State. It suggests boosting community-based mental health services, establishing mental health screening as part of maternal and child health programmes and also introducing economic empowerment programmes for mothers to enhance both maternal mental health status and child wellbeing.
Keywords: Mothers, Mental health, Children’s wellbeing, Coastal areas, Depression, Anxiety
Files
MENTAL HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.pdf
Files
(884.4 kB)
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:166dc72c97f628af09059965b12d5923
|
884.4 kB | Preview Download |
Additional details
Identifiers
- URL
- https://kwararafasecurityreview.com.ng/
- ISSN
- 3122-072X
- DOI
- 10.64633/ksr.v4.i3.25
- Other
- https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=q2hsbWMAAAAJ&pagesize=80&citation_for_view=q2hsbWMAAAAJ:4fKUyHm3Qg0C
Dates
- Available
-
2026-06-30Published
Software
- Repository URL
- https://kwararafasecurityreview.com.ng/
- Development Status
- Active
References
- Alonso, J., Liu, Z., Evans-Lacko, S., Sadikova, E., Sampson, N., Chatterji, S., Abdulmalik, J., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Andrade, L. H., Bruffaerts, R., Cardoso, G., Cia, A., Florescu, S., de Girolamo, G., Gureje, O., Haro, J. M., He, Y., de Jonge, P., Karam, E. G., Kawakami, N., Kovess-Masfety, V., Lee, S., Levinson, D. Medina-Mora, M. E., Navarro-Mateu, F., Pennell, B., Piazza, M., Posada-Villa, J., Have, M. T., Zarkov, Z., Kessler, R. C., &Thornicroft, G. (2018). Treatment gap for anxiety disorders is global: Results of the World Mental Health Surveys in 21 countries. Depression and Anxiety, 35(3), 195-208. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22711 American Psychiatric Association (2022).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing. American Psychiatric Association (2025).Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved online on January 2026 from https//www.psychiatry.org/patientsfamilies anxiety-disorders Asangausung, O. S., Okorie, E. J., & Daniel, U. S. (2025). Paternity disputes and delinquent behaviour among street children in major towns in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Academic Journal of National Issues (AJNI) 2(1):24-37. Ayesa-Arriola, R. Parás, C. & Diaz-Pons, A. (2025). Motherhood and childhood in the context of mental illness: A narrative review. Women 5(3), 26.https://doi.org/10.3390/women50 30026 Beesdo, K., Knappe, S., & Pine, D S. (2009). Anxiety and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: Developmental issues and implications for DSM-V. Psychiatric Clinical and Neurological Association of America, 5(32), 483-524 Ben, V. E., Okijie, S. R., &Asangausung, O. S. (2018). Assessment of health needs of children under five years in violent rift communities of Odukpani, Cross River State, Nigeria. Uyo Journal of Sustainable Development, 3(2), 30-42. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15926327 Bradley, R. H., &Corwyn, R. F. (2002).Socioeconomic status and child development.Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 371-399. Daniel, U. S., & Ben, V. E. (2024).Challenges of mental health disorders of mothers and implications on infants' behaviour in AkwaIbom State.InternationalJournal of Culture and Society,3(2), 97-106. Daniel, U. S., &Edet, A. F. (2026).Socioeconomic implications of malaria treatment for children and the attainment of quality healthcare in IbesikpoAsutan Local Government Area, AkwaIbom State, Nigeria. AKSU Journal of Social Sciences, 7(1), 29-38. https://doi.org/10.61090/aksujoss.7.1 .29-38 Daniel, U. S., & Peters, M. I. (2024). Teenage mothers and pregnancy related challenges in traditional societies of AkwaIbom State, Nigeria. International Journal of Cultures and Society, 2(2), 72-78. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1110 0344 Diaz-Pons, A., Soler-Andrés, M., OrtizGarcía de la Foz, V, MurilloCGarcia, N., Yorca-Ruiz, A., MagdalenoHerrero, R., Castaño C, S., González-Rodriguez, A., Setién, S. E., &Ayesa-Arriola, R. (2024). Exploring parenthood in the first episode of psychosis: The potential role of the offspring in the outcome of women.Achieves of Women's Mental Health, 27, 693-703. Engle, P. L., Black, M. M., Behrman, J. R., Cabral de Mello, M., Gertler, P. J., Kapiriri, L., Martorell, R., Young, M. E., & International Child Development Steering Group (2007).Strategies to avoid the loss of developmental potential in more than 200 million children in the developing world. Lancet (London, England), 369(9557), 229-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140- 6736(07)60112-3 Frosch, C. A., Schoppe-Sullivan, S. J., &O'Banion, D. D. (2021). Parenting and child development: A relational health perspective. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 15, 45-59. Greenberg, P. E., Sisitsky, T., Kessler, R. C., Finkelstein, S. N., Bemdt, E. R., Davidson, J. R., &Fyer, A. J. (2019). The economic burden of anxiety disorders in the 1990s. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 6(13), 84-92. Hackman, D. A., Farah, M. J., &Meaney, M. J. (2010). Socioeconomic status and the brain: Mechanisms and implications. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(9), 651–659. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.199 6.01830020077009 Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2024). Global burden of disease 2021: Findings from the GBD 2021 Study.https://www.healthdata.org/res earch-analysis/library/global-burdendisease-2021-findings-gbd-2021- study Karimzadeh, M., Rostami, M., Teymouri, R., Moazzen, Z., &Tahmasebi, S. (2017). The association between parental mental health and behavioural disorders in pre-school children.Electron and Physician, 2(9), 4497-4502. Karimzadeh, M., Rostami, M., Teymouri, R., Moazzen, Z., &Tahmasebi, S. (2017). The association between parental mental health and behavioural disorders in preschool children. Electronic Physician, 9(2), 4497–4502. Kirkbride, J. B.; Anglin, D. M.; Colman, 1.; Dykxhoorn, J.; Jones, P.B.; Patalay, P.; Pitman, A.; Soneson, E.; Steare, T.; Wright, T. (2024). The social determinants of mental health and disorder: Evidence, prevention and recommendations. World Psychiatry, Official Journal of World Psychiatry Association. 23:58-90. Krupansky, J. (2017). Determinants of mental health and mental illness: Biological, environmental and psychological perspectives. Journal of Mental Health Studies, 12(3), 112–124. Krupansky, J. (2017). Determinants of mental health and mental illness: Biological, environmental and psychological perspectives. Journal of Mental Health Studies, 12(3), 112–124. Magee, W. J., Eaton, W. W., Wittchen, H. U., McGonagle, K. A., & Kessler, R. C. (1996). Agoraphobia, simple phobia, and social phobia in the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of general psychiatry, 53(2), 159–168. Markowitz, J. S., Weismann, M. M., Ouellette, R., Lish, J. D., &Klerman, G. L. (2019).Quality of life in panic disorder.Archives of General Psychiatry, 46(11), 984-992 Marmot, M. (2005).Social determinants of health inequalities.The Lancet, 365(9464), 1099-1104. Mboho, K. S. (2025). Fundamentals of sociology.Roberminders International Ltd., Uyo. Ministry of Health South Africa (2007). WHO-AIMS report on mental health systems in Africa. https://pmhp.za.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/WHO2007-AIMS-report.pdf Mohr, W. K. (2003). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Offong, S. E., Asangausung, O. S., &Umontuen, E. J. (2023).Alcohol use and health status of rural older persons in Ikot Obong Edong, Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. AKSU Annals of Sustainable Development, 1(2), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.60787/AASD-1-2- 8 Willie, C. E., Daniel, U. S., &Mboho, K. S. (2024). Family status and teenage pregnancy in rural communities of Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Research,7(3), 229-242. World Health Organization (2022, June 17). Mental health: Strengthening our response. WHO.https://whodev5.prgsdev.com/m/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/mentalhealth-strengthening-our-response World Health Organization (2025, October 8). Mental health.WHO.https://www.who.int/ne ws-room/fact-sheets/detail/mentalhealth-strengthening-our-response World Health Organization (2025b, September 30). Mental disorders.WHO.https://www.who.int/ news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mentalhealth-strengthening-our-response Yeung, W. J., Linver, M. R., & BrooksGunn, J. (2002). How money matters for young children's development. Child Development, 73(6), 1861– 1879.