Lived experiences of mothers with postnatal anxiety: a qualitative phenomenology study from Pakistan

The prevalence of postnatal anxiety is high among women during the first year of childbirth globally. Rates are higher in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), that is, 24%. Existing literature on maternal mood and its impact on child development has largely focused on postnatal depression. Postnatal anxiety has been recognised to have significant independent effects similar to those of postnatal depression, including negative effects on various aspects of maternal well-being including quality of life, parent-child interaction and child development. The evidence exploring lived experiences of postnatal anxiety is limited from LMICs. This study explored the lived experiences of anxiety in postnatal mothers in Pakistan.

A phenomenological approach was used for this qualitative study. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using the process of thematic analysis.

The study was conducted in two community settings in Karachi, Pakistan; the Bin Qasim and Gadap town.

Women who were 18 years of age or older, had a live childbirth within the previous 12 months and had a score of 10 or higher on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7.

In-depth, one-to-one interviews were conducted with 10 participants. The qualitative data comprised of three themes. Theme one: Factors perceived to be associated with postnatal anxiety, Theme two: The perceived impact of postnatal anxiety and Theme three: Support needs. The first theme was further subdivided into two subthemes, that is, Mothers' perception of navigating domestic responsibilities and sociocultural norms of motherhood and financial constraints.

Despite the high prevalence of postnatal anxiety in LMICs there is not any published evidence on exploring this phenomenon through in-depth research in Pakistan. Understanding the lived experiences will help health professionals to identify women at risk of developing postnatal anxiety and to develop effective culturally appropriate interventions for women with anxiety during this postnatal period.