Improving the mental wellbeing of young mothers in West African countries

Principal Investigator: Dr Philippa Waterhouse (OU)
Co-Investigator(s): Dr Ayomide Oluseye (OU), Prof Cathy Lloyd (OU), Dr Rod Earle (OU), Dr Might Kojo Abreh (University of Cape Coast), Dr Jacob Owusu Safro (University of Cape Coast), Dr Joyceline Alla-Mensah (University of Lincoln).
Project partner: Open Societal Challenge.
Focus Country: Initially Ghana
Project start: October 2023.

Globally, 15% of young women are estimated to give birth in adolescence. This figure, nevertheless, hides stark regional differences. Statistics show that West Africa has some of the highest levels of adolescent childbearing. Religious and cultural norms that value female virginity and emphasise abstinence until marriage, as well as negative perceptions of young mothers, mean they can face unique challenges that can have dire consequences for their mental wellbeing including the experience of stigma, discrimination and exclusion from peers, family, schooling and health services.

This project aims to co-develop, pilot and evaluate a local intervention focused on tackling stigma and supporting the mental wellbeing of young mothers in West Africa. Our focus will initially be on the Cape Coast Metropolitan area of Ghana. We plan to work with key stakeholders, including young mothers, community members and health and educational professionals, through the use of creative methods and stakeholder workshops to identify needs and priorities.