Authors : Athanase Nsengiyumva; Vincent Sezibera; Vicent Cubaka; Alain Ahishakiye; Alphonse Nshimyiryo; Augustin Mulindabigwi; Jules Cesar Munyabugingo; John Peter Ndikubwimana

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 1 - January

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3f5w2sd9

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/yw22e9vd

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14709716

Abstract : Perinatal depression, affecting women during pregnancy and up to a year postpartum, is a critical public health concern with significant implications for maternal and child health. This cross-sectional study assessed healthcare providers’ knowledge and practices related to perinatal depression in rural Rwanda, focusing on health facilities affiliated with Rwinkwavu, Kirehe, and Butaro District Hospitals. A total of 172 healthcare providers participated, including doctors, midwives, and nurses, who completed a structured questionnaire adapted to the Rwandan context.Results revealed substantial gaps in knowledge and practices. While 89.2% of participants recognized the association between perinatal depression and poor child health outcomes, only 2.9% identified the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as a standard screening tool. Practices were similarly deficient; for instance, only 13.4% of providers conducted routine screenings for perinatal depression. Training emerged as a crucial determinant, with participants who had received mental health training scoring significantly higher in knowledge and practices.Barriers to effective management included inadequate training, limited use of standardized screening tools, and a lack of mental health personnel and referral systems. Despite the decentralization of mental health services in Rwanda, the absence of formal guidelines for perinatal depression in maternal health protocols limits systematic care.To improve outcomes, the study recommends integrating mental health training into the curricula of healthcare professionals, establishing national guidelines for perinatal depression, and strengthening resources and referral pathways. These measures would address current gaps, ensuring early detection and management of perinatal depression to enhance maternal and child health outcomes in rural Rwanda.This research underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to bridge knowledge and practice gaps among healthcare providers, thereby addressing the underestimated and underdiagnosed burden of perinatal depression in low-resource settings.

Keywords : Mental Health, Perinatal Depression, Healthcare providers, Knowledge, Practices, Pregnancy.

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