Awareness and Attitudes Toward Perinatal Mental Health Among Pharmacy Students at a Nigerian University
1
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Perinatal mental health disorders, particularly perinatal depression and anxiety, remain underdiagnosed in Nigeria despite their significant impact on maternal and child well-being1. Pharmacists are strategically positioned to promote early detection and support for affected women; however, their competence depends on adequate awareness and positive attitudes developed during2. This study assessed the awareness and attitudes toward perinatal mental health among final-year pharmacy students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
METHODS:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among final-year pharmacy students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, using a 30-item structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire. Eligibility criteria included being a registered final-year Bachelor of Pharmacy student present during data collection and willing to provide informed consent. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS version 27, and significance was set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
Of the 322 respondents, 184 (57.1%) were female and 138 (42.9%) were male, with a mean age of 23.4 ± 2.1 years. Overall, 241 students (74.8%) had heard of maternal mental health disorders, mainly through social media (45.6%) and classroom instruction (33.2%). However, only 128 (39.8%) demonstrated good knowledge of conditions such as postpartum depression, while 194 (60.2%) had poor knowledge. A majority (81.1%) agreed that perinatal mental health is a critical component of reproductive health, and 77.6% expressed willingness to support affected women. Nonetheless, 32.3% still believed maternal mental illness could result from spiritual causes. Awareness levels were significantly higher among females and those with prior mental health coursework (p = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS:
Final-year pharmacy students demonstrated moderate awareness and generally positive attitudes toward perinatal mental health, though knowledge gaps and cultural misconceptions persist. Integrating targeted mental health education into the pharmacy curriculum could strengthen future pharmacists’ roles in promoting maternal and child well-being.
Perinatal mental health disorders, particularly perinatal depression and anxiety, remain underdiagnosed in Nigeria despite their significant impact on maternal and child well-being1. Pharmacists are strategically positioned to promote early detection and support for affected women; however, their competence depends on adequate awareness and positive attitudes developed during2. This study assessed the awareness and attitudes toward perinatal mental health among final-year pharmacy students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
METHODS:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among final-year pharmacy students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, using a 30-item structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire. Eligibility criteria included being a registered final-year Bachelor of Pharmacy student present during data collection and willing to provide informed consent. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS version 27, and significance was set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
Of the 322 respondents, 184 (57.1%) were female and 138 (42.9%) were male, with a mean age of 23.4 ± 2.1 years. Overall, 241 students (74.8%) had heard of maternal mental health disorders, mainly through social media (45.6%) and classroom instruction (33.2%). However, only 128 (39.8%) demonstrated good knowledge of conditions such as postpartum depression, while 194 (60.2%) had poor knowledge. A majority (81.1%) agreed that perinatal mental health is a critical component of reproductive health, and 77.6% expressed willingness to support affected women. Nonetheless, 32.3% still believed maternal mental illness could result from spiritual causes. Awareness levels were significantly higher among females and those with prior mental health coursework (p = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS:
Final-year pharmacy students demonstrated moderate awareness and generally positive attitudes toward perinatal mental health, though knowledge gaps and cultural misconceptions persist. Integrating targeted mental health education into the pharmacy curriculum could strengthen future pharmacists’ roles in promoting maternal and child well-being.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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