ArticleBMC global and public health2024
Cultural and social factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder among adolescent mothers during the postpartum period in Malawi: a cross-sectional survey.
Article in BMC global and public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Maternal mental health and child development before and after an extreme cyclone in Malawi.BMC global and public health · 2026Article
- Prevalence and determinants of depression and anxiety among patients enrolled in palliative care: The Case of a palliative care program in Neno District, Malawi.Palliative care and social practice · 2026Article
- Article
- "They organized women who advised me": Adolescents' perceptions of Social and cultural influences on mental health during the postnatal period in Malawi: Qualitative study.PLOS mental health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe postnatal period is an important time for adolescent mothers to regain their health as they adjust to life with their infants. However, it is also a time when mothers are vulnerable to mental health problems. Generalized anxiety disorders (GADs) are among the common mental disorders that can impact mothers. Anxiety disorders can have adverse effects on a child's cognitive development. However, there is a scarcity of studies pertaining to anxiety disorders among adolescent mothers in Malawi.
methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescent postnatal mothers aged ≤ 19 years to establish the prevalence of probable GAD and identify cultural and social factors that influence anxiety in this population. Adolescent mothers were recruited from the Mitundu Rural Hospital catchment area in Lilongwe district, Malawi. A two-stage random sampling method was employed: clinics were randomly selected, and participants were recruited via systematic random sampling. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale was used to assess anxiety. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.
resultsOf the 395 adolescent mothers who participated, 34% were aged 14-17. The prevalence of probable GAD (GAD-7 ≥ 10) was 31.9%. Increased social support decreased the odds of probable GAD (aOR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91-0.98, p < 0.001). Experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) increased the likelihood of probable GAD (aOR 4.80, 95% CI: 1.23-18.82, p = 0.02), while those who had contact with a health worker postnatally (aOR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.17-0.83, p = 0.02) and those who were "not prayerful" (aOR, 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21-0.87, p = 0.02) were less likely to report probable GAD.
conclusionsGiven that the prevalence of probable GAD among adolescent mothers in Malawi is higher compared to the global estimates of their peers, policies and guidelines that prioritize the maternal mental health of adolescent mothers in Malawi are required. The findings also highlight the importance of enhancing social support among family and community. Co-designed mental health promotion, prevention, and early interventions to involve health workers and religious leaders are recommended.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.