Socio-cultural representations of postpartum mental disorders

Postpartum psychological disorders are all the psychopathological states associated with the gravidopuerperal period. This includes pregnancy childbirth breastfeeding and weaning. While all these events are natural for women they represent both physical and psychological ordeals. In Africa socio-cultural representations of postnatal depression are harmful. In Togo and more specifically in the prefecture of Dankpen despite the measures taken by health services such as the CHR Kara and the CHP Dankpen to support mothers they continue to be stigmatized aggravating their postnatal depression. The aim of this research is to analyze the different socio-cultural representations of post-partum mental disorders using a documentary analysis and data from individual interviews. The results show that people s lack of understanding of psychodynamic biological and socio-cultural factors has had negative repercussions on parturients the child s socialization the relationship between the mother and the child and on the child s development.