Our journey to build capacity to implement and study an intervention to reduce depression among pregnant, Kenyan adolescents

Abstract

Depression is the leading cause of disease burden in women of reproductive age.1,2,3 The prevalence of depression is high during the perinatal period, with worldwide estimates of 11- 18%.4,5,6 Depression during pregnancy is linked to multiple adverse health outcomes for mothers and children.7,8,9 In Kenya 26% of adolescents give birth before age 18.10 Pregnant adolescents in East Africa report mental health problems, difficulty in accessing financial, moral and material support from parents or partners, and stigmatization by health workers when seeking health care.11,12 Developing innovative and scalable interventions to reduce the adverse consequences of depression in pregnant adolescents, increase their engagement in the health care system and help them build strong social support networks is critically important.