Experiences influencing the mental health of young  mothers in West Africa: a scoping review:

Philippa Waterhouse; Ayomide  Oluseye; Cathy Lloyd; Joyceline Alla-Mensah; Lorna Rouse; Jacob Owusu Sarfo; Might K Abreh

doi:10.46829/hsijournal.2026.7.9.1.1589-1602

Philippa Waterhouse School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
Ayomide Oluseye School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Cathy Lloyd School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
Joyceline Alla-Mensah School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Lorna Rouse School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
Jacob Owusu Sarfo Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Might K Abreh Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46829/hsijournal.2026.7.9.1.1589-1602

Keywords: young motherhood, adolescent mothers, mental health, West Africa

Abstract

Background: Globally, West Africa has one of the highest levels of adolescent childbearing. This review explores peer-reviewed empirical literature to identify what is known about the experiences influencing the mental health of young mothers in West Africa.
Methods: A search was conducted across six databases, covering the period January 2010 to August 2025. Additional articles were identified through knowledge of the authoring team and manual searching of websites. Peer-reviewed articles were included if they reported empirical research, included mothers aged 19 years and younger at the time of birth in their sample, were studies that reported on the experiences of young mothers and linked these to young mothers’ mental health, reported research conducted in a West African country and were published in the English language. Overall, 21 studies were included in this review, 12 identified via the database search and nine via the other methods described. The findings of the included studies were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Most articles (n=15) reported on research conducted in Ghana, five reported on research conducted in Nigeria and one research study was conducted in The Gambia. The included articles found that young mothers’ experiences of stigma and discrimination, partner, family and social support, financial and health challenges, difficulties with childcare, young mothers’ faith and their hopes for the future influence their mental health.
Conclusion: This scoping review highlights a complex mix of cultural, psychological, and social influences on young mothers’ mental health in West Africa.