Prevalence and predictors of common mental disorders among mothers of preterm babies at neonatal intensive care units in Ghana

The impact of preterm babies' admission at the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) on the mental health of mothers is a global challenge. However, the prevalence and predictors of Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) among this population remain underexplored. This study assessed the predictors of CMDs among mothers of preterm infants in the NICUs in the Upper East Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted, targeting mothers of preterm babies in two hospitals in the Upper East Region. The Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to collect data from 375 mothers of preterm babies admitted to the NICUs. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 20. The study found a prevalence of 40.9% for CMDs among mothers of preterm babies admitted to the two NICUs. The predictors of CMDs were unemployment (aOR 2.925, 95% CI 1.465, 5.840), lower levels of education (aOR 5.582, 95% CI 1.316, 23.670), antenatal anxiety (aOR 3.606, 95% CI 1.870, 6.952), and assisted delivery (aOR 2.144, 95% CI 1.083, 4.246). Conversely, urban residence (aOR 0.390, 95% CI 0.200, 0.760), age range between 25 and 31 (aOR 0.238, 95% CI 0.060, 0.953), and having a supportive partner (aOR 0.095, 95% CI 0.015, 0.593) emerged as protective factors. This study emphasizes the imperative of addressing maternal mental health within the NICU setting for preterm births.