From: Perinatal depression in Nigeria: perspectives of women, family caregivers and health care providers
Causes | Mechanisms | Idioms of distress and illness termsa | Symptoms and signs |
---|---|---|---|
[lay theory] | |||
1. Husband not emotionally caring | 1. Thinking too much [excessive rumination] | Group 1 (milder illness): Eforitulu, Sleeplessness, Deep thought, Stress, Sickness after birth, Emotional deficiency, Depressive disorder, Waku-gbari | Symptoms: irrational talk and behavior, feeling down and sad, poor sleep, aimless wandering, low energy, poor appetite, weight loss, headaches |
2. Problems with in-laws | 2. Rise in blood pressure [local theory of stress] | Group 2 (more severe illness): Aisan opolo, Abisinwin, Madness, Mental problem, Insanity | Signs: irrational talk and behavior, looks dejected, sad, poor sleep, aimless wandering, low energy, poor appetite, weight loss, socially withdrawn, headaches, low self esteem, neglecting to care for baby |
3. Spiritual attack | 3. Envy by others | ||
4. Wanting a male child | [sorcery-witchcraft] | ||
5. Shock-traumatic event | 4. Not ordinary causation [supernatural causation] | ||
6. Not resting after delivery | 5. Eating in dream [mystical means] | ||
7. Sleeplessness | 6. Sleeplessness [naturalistic causation] | ||
8. Medical causes (infections, pregnancy complications, difficult labor) | 7. Headaches [naturalistic causation] | ||
8. Eyeballs white | |||
[blood shortage-balance theory] | |||
9. High temperature | |||
[hot and cold-balance theory] | |||
10. Taboo violation [supernatural punishment] |