Traditional Birth Attendants’ Awareness of Postpartum Psychosis in Rural Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency requiring immediate clinical attention, yet in rural Nigeria it is frequently managed first by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) who may lack adequate knowledge of its recognition and referral pathways. This study assesses the awareness of postpartum psychosis among TBAs in rural Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design will recruit 160 TBAs from 30 villages across Birnin Kebbi, Gwandu, and Argungu local government areas using purposive sampling. A structured researcher-designed questionnaire assessing knowledge of postpartum psychiatric symptoms, causal beliefs, home management practices, and referral behavior will be administered in Hausa through trained interviewers. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests will be used to analyze data. Evidence from North West Nigeria shows that postpartum psychosis is frequently attributed to evil spirits, with TBAs employing herbal and spiritual interventions that delay hospital presentation. This study will provide evidence for targeted TBA training programs on perinatal mental health referral in Kebbi State. Keywords: postpartum psychosis, traditional birth attendants, awareness, Kebbi State, perinatal mental health