Depression Among Teenage Mothers in Otumi Community in the Kwaebibirim District of the Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract

The research investigated depression among teenage mothers in Otumi. The population for the study comprised all teenage mothers in Otumi community. The sample size comprised sixty teenage mothers from Otumi community in the Kwaebibirim District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study aimed at finding whether the level of depression varied with age, socioeconomic status and marital status of non-clinical teenage mothers. The main instrument used for the collection of the data was the Beck Depression Inventory, and the data collected was analyzed and presented in descriptive and inferential statistic form using frequencies, t-test tables and percentages. The result of the study revealed that age, socioeconomic status and marital status has significant relationship with the level of depression among the mothers. It was evident from the study that young teenage mothers, teenage mothers from low socioeconomic background and teenage mothers who are single suffer high level of depression. In the light of the above findings, it was recommended that the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection as well as the Department of Social welfare should organize social education and create social safety nets to support teenage mothers to help curb their level of depression.

Keywords: Depression, teenage mothers, socio-economic status