Magnitude of paternal postpartum psychological distress and associated factors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The psychological distress of fathers in the postpartum period can have adverse effects on the well-being of the family and the newborn’s development in particular.

However, fathers’ mental health throughout the postpartum has remained understudied and clinically overlooked in many developing countries, including Ethiopia.

This study aims to assess the prevalence of psychological distress among fathers in the postpartum period and to examine the associated factors in an Ethiopian population.

METHODS: A facility-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) and Gandhi Memorial Hospital (GMH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

A systematic sampling method was employed to include 280 fathers whose partners gave birth 6 to 8 weeks before the interview.

Psychological distress was assessed using a validated Amharic version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) through a telephone interview.

The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 26.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data.

Multivariable logistic regression was run to determine the variables associated with paternal postpartum psychological distress (K10 total score ≥ 7, a validated cut-off score in an urban Ethiopian setting), and odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were obtained.

A two-tailed p-value < 0.05 was considered for statistical significance.

RESULTS: About one-fifth of the fathers endorsed having distress symptoms during the postpartum period.

Those with lower income (AOR = 11.31, 95% CI:  4.10, 31.15), unintended pregnancy (AOR = 3.96, 95% CI: 1.02, 15.46), poor social support (AOR =3.28 95% CI: 1.43, 7.50), poor infantile health (AOR = 8.20, 95% CI: 2.35, 28.66)  and maternal postpartum distress (AOR = 12.10,  95% CI: 3.15, 46.48) had significantly higher odds of having paternal postpartum distress.

CONCLUSIONS: Paternal postpartum distress was present in one-fifth of the fathers included in this study.

This calls for due attention and efforts for early detection of those at risk of paternal distress and the development of interventions that consider their specific needs.