Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, and Community Support Networks in Low-Resource Settings

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 10, October 2026 | pp. 253–266

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001333

Article Type: Research Article

Title: Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, and Community Support Networks in Low-Resource Settings

Names of Author: Amina Al-Hassan¹, Mei-Ying Tan², & Rebecca Callahan³

Author's Affiliation: ¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan; ²Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; ³Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, United States.

Abstract:
Perinatal and postpartum mental health conditions affect millions of women globally, yet maternal health programs in low-resource settings focus almost exclusively on physical obstetric survival while neglecting psychological well-being. Poverty, intimate partner conflict, displacement, and the erosion of traditional extended-family postpartum care practices heighten women’s vulnerability to severe postpartum depression and anxiety. Moreover, psychiatric stigma and acute shortages of mental health specialists prevent mothers from seeking clinical support. This paper investigates community-based psychosocial interventions for maternal mental health in urban Sudan and Singapore’s migrant communities. Grounded in feminist care ethics and global mental health frameworks, the study evaluates peer-led mother support groups and task-shifted counseling programs involving 70 postpartum women. The findings demonstrate that culturally adapted peer support circles reduce maternal isolation, destigmatize emotional distress, and foster collective resilience.

Keywords: Maternal mental health, postpartum depression, community support, feminist care ethics, global mental health, peer counseling, stigma, well-being

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 04, 2026; Revised: October 04, 2026; Accepted: October 08, 2026; Published: October 15, 2026.

Citation: Al-Hassan, A., Tan, M.-Y., & Callahan, R. (2026). Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, and Community Support Networks in Low-Resource Settings. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(10), 253–266. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001333

Subscribe to read the full article: https://www.internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read