The Mental Health Challenges Faced by Men During Spousal Pregnancy: A Case Study of the Thulamela Municipality in the Vhembe Region of Limpopo, South Africa

Pregnancy is a transformation period not only for women but also for their partners. While the mental health of expectant mothers has been extensively studied, the mental health challenges faced by men during the pregnancy of their wives have remained under-explored, particularly in villages around South Africa. This study therefore investigated the mental health challenges encountered by men during their partners’ pregnancy in the Thulamela Municipality of Limpopo Province in South Africa. The Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura helped in undergirding this study. A qualitative approach was employed, using an exploratory research design. Participants were selected through non-probability purposive and snowball sampling techniques, to make their contributions to the mental health of men during their wives’ pregnancy and after delivery of the child. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings highlight that men experience significant emotional and psychological challenges, including anxiety, stress, and depression, often exacerbated by financial pressures and societal expectations. The paper makes an immense contribution especially in the context of the studies on mental health. Keywords: Challenges, Depression, Men, Mental health, Pregnancy.