Socio-Demographic Determinants of Help-Seeking Behaviour for Postpartum Depression Among Women in Yobe and Niger States, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: In Northern Nigeria, postpartum depression (PPD) remains a largely unspoken crisis, constrained by cultural norms and socioeconomic inequalities that hinder women’s access to care. Objective: This study examines how core demographic factors, age, income, education, and number of children influence women’s help-seeking behaviour for PPD in Yobe and Niger States, Nigeria. Methods: A community-based survey was conducted involving 519 women of reproductive age. Data were analysed using SmartPLS structural equation modelling to evaluate the relationships between demographic factors and help-seeking behaviour. Findings: The results revealed that income was the strongest predictor (β = 0.463), followed by education (β = 0.301), age (β = 0.243), and the number of children (β = 0.171), collectively demonstrating a clear hierarchy of determinants shaping women’s help-seeking behaviour. Conclusion: Women’s decisions to seek mental health support are strongly determined by their socioeconomic and demographic realities. Recommendations: Integrated interventions combining economic empowerment, educational initiatives, and mental health literacy are essential. Policy implications: The study advocates for subsidised maternal mental health services and the integration of psychological care into primary healthcare to ensure that support becomes accessible to all women, irrespective of income or status.