Effectiveness of Psycho-Spiritual Therapy on Postpartum Depression Among Women of the FCT Baptist Conference, Nigeria

Author

Gwana Dogara Deborah, Andrew Zamani, Solomon Agbonhulu

Abstract

 This study investigated the effectiveness of psycho-spiritual therapy on postpartum depression among women attending churches within the FCT Baptist Conference, Abuja, Nigeria, and examined the prevalence of PPD, its associated risk factors, and the availability of psycho-spiritual services. Methods: A single-group pretest-posttest design was employed. From an accessible population of 630 postpartum women across eleven rural and urban church associations, a sample of 245 was determined using Yamane's (1967) formula and selected through stratified and simple random sampling; 183 valid responses were analysed. Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Psycho-Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (P-SWBS), and analysed using descriptive statistics, simple and multiple linear regression, and a paired-samples t-test at the .05 level of significance. Results: Postpartum depression was prevalent among participants: 134 respondents (73.2%) reported some degree of depressive symptomatology (mild to severe), and 93 respondents (50.8%) met the stricter EPDS cut-off (≥13) for probable postpartum depression. Financial stress, childcare responsibilities, marital challenges, and low social support were significant contributors (R² = .413, p < .001). Access to psycho-spiritual services was significantly associated with lower PPD (R² = .236, p < .001), and a paired-samples t-test confirmed a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms following the therapy intervention, with mean scores declining from 25.81 (SD = 5.46) before therapy to 15.38 (SD = 4.81) after therapy, t(182) = 22.364, p < .001. Post-intervention psycho-spiritual wellbeing was also significantly associated with lower depression scores (R² = .272, p < .001). Conclusion: Psycho-spiritual therapy can be an effective component of a holistic response to postpartum depression within faith-based communities. Structured counselling, prayer, fellowship, mentoring, scriptural encouragement, and appropriate referral pathways are recommended.

Keywords

postpartum depression; psycho-spiritual therapy; women; faith-based intervention; pastoral counselling; FCT Baptist Conference; Nigeria

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