Service delivery strategies for perinatal mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
1
DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATES, BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Mental health conditions (MHCs), including depression and anxiety, affect a significant number of women during the perinatal period. These conditions are especially prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and low-resource settings where access to quality mental health services remains limited. This underscores the urgent need for effective strategies and interventions to identify, support, and empower women experiencing perinatal mental health challenges, ensuring they receive timely care and comprehensive support during this critical period.
AIM:
This scoping review aimed to synthesise existing evidence on strategies designed to improve access to perinatal mental health services in Sub-Saharan Africa. Setting: The review focuses on studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The studies were conducted across various healthcare and community-based settings, highlighting innovative approaches.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted across relevant databases and search engines, including EBSCOhost, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and hand search. Only studies published between 2015 and 2025 and conducted in English were included in the analysis. For reporting, the Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist was used.
RESULTS:
The initial database search yielded 735 study records. After removing duplicates, 375 titles and abstracts were screened, and ultimately, four studies met the inclusion criteria for the final synthesis. The studies evaluated a range of strategies, all aimed at improving mental health services for perinatal women. The studies evaluated a range of strategies, including task sharing, screening, and stepped care models, such as counselling and referral services.
CONCLUSIONS:
Sustainable improvements in perinatal mental health services require investment in workforce development, culturally adapted interventions, and supportive policies. Strengthening these approaches will not only improve the mental health of pregnant mothers but also of infants and communities across the region.
Mental health conditions (MHCs), including depression and anxiety, affect a significant number of women during the perinatal period. These conditions are especially prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and low-resource settings where access to quality mental health services remains limited. This underscores the urgent need for effective strategies and interventions to identify, support, and empower women experiencing perinatal mental health challenges, ensuring they receive timely care and comprehensive support during this critical period.
AIM:
This scoping review aimed to synthesise existing evidence on strategies designed to improve access to perinatal mental health services in Sub-Saharan Africa. Setting: The review focuses on studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The studies were conducted across various healthcare and community-based settings, highlighting innovative approaches.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted across relevant databases and search engines, including EBSCOhost, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and hand search. Only studies published between 2015 and 2025 and conducted in English were included in the analysis. For reporting, the Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist was used.
RESULTS:
The initial database search yielded 735 study records. After removing duplicates, 375 titles and abstracts were screened, and ultimately, four studies met the inclusion criteria for the final synthesis. The studies evaluated a range of strategies, all aimed at improving mental health services for perinatal women. The studies evaluated a range of strategies, including task sharing, screening, and stepped care models, such as counselling and referral services.
CONCLUSIONS:
Sustainable improvements in perinatal mental health services require investment in workforce development, culturally adapted interventions, and supportive policies. Strengthening these approaches will not only improve the mental health of pregnant mothers but also of infants and communities across the region.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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