Participants who scored 10 or above on Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and tested positive for postnatal depression on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) would be recruited randomly assigned into two groups in each of the four primary health care (PHC) facilities designated for the present study. Groups one will receive the LTP+CaCBT treatment - the intervention will consist of a total of 12 (social distancing) group training sessions (60-90 minutes). Groups two will receive routine treatment as usual (TAU) currently available in the PHC facilities (e.g. antidepressants) in the selected communities. Each group will comprise of approximately 10 mother-child pairs.
The project aims to test the feasibility, acceptability, cultural appropriateness and effectiveness of LTP+CaCBT for treating postnatal depression and to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of mothers and their children in the low-income areas of Jos Nigeria. This project also aims to provide primary healthcare workers with culturally sensitive requisite skills and support to embed the proposed intervention into routine care practice and increase access to evidence-based intervention.