Perinatal Mental Health Services Utilization Among Women at General Hospital, Minna, Niger State, North Central Nigeria

Perinatal mental health disorders, including antenatal depression and postpartum psychosis, remain underrecognized and underserved in Nigerian general hospitals. This study evaluates utilization patterns and barriers to perinatal mental health services among postnatal women at General Hospital, Minna, Niger State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will recruit 180 postnatal women through consecutive sampling at the maternity unit. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) will screen for perinatal depression, while a structured questionnaire will capture utilization of available mental health services, perceived barriers, and health-seeking pathways. Healthcare provider perspectives will be explored through eight semi-structured interviews with obstetricians, midwives, and community health workers. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used for quantitative analysis, and thematic analysis will be applied to qualitative data. Literature from North Central Nigeria suggests that perinatal mental health screening is rarely integrated into routine antenatal and postnatal care, with most cases going undetected. Findings will support the development of integrated perinatal mental health care pathways in Niger State general hospitals. Keywords: perinatal mental health, postnatal depression, service utilization, Minna, Niger State