Perinatal Mental Health in Resource Constrained Settings

Perinatal mental health (PMH) conditions are a critical and neglected global health challenge. Women in resource-constrained settings are disproportionately affected, with the condition frequently exacerbated by economic constraints, limited access to healthcare, lack of trained specialist and non-specialist healthcare professionals, stigma, unhelpful cultural practices, conflicts and displacement. A vast knowledge base exists among researchers, programme implementers, non-governmental organisations, policy planners and other groups, on how to understand, address and overcome these challenges in their respective contexts.

This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of PMH in different contexts globally, identify effective interventions, acceptable and feasible measurement and evaluation, highlight challenges and successful approaches in implementation, and inform programme planning and policy development.

We welcome original research articles, reviews including systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses, case studies, and commentaries that contribute to this important area. We are interested in receiving manuscripts with relevance to perinatal mental health in resource-constrained settings, in particular, but not exclusively, in areas such as:

• Evidence-based interventions (including preventive and promotion interventions) for PMH in resource-constrained settings, including pilot studies, evaluations, arts and community-based interventions, RCTs and those that address social determinants
• Experiences from implementation of maternal mental health programs, including process evaluations
• Epidemiological studies, including prevalence and risk factors for PMH disorders
• Cultural and social factors, such as the impact of cultural beliefs, stigma, gender inequity, poverty, and other social determinants of PMH
• Access to care, including barriers to accessing PMH services, delivery of care, and strategies for improving care
• novel detection approaches and measurement scales: development, contextual adaptation testing and evaluation
• The role of technology in improving PMH care
• Learnings and recommendations from and for policy and advocacy for addressing PMH challenges

This Research Topic will provide valuable insights into PMH in resource-constrained settings, promote collaboration among researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers, and inform research and implementation of programmes and policy decisions, to help improve the lives of women and their families during the perinatal period and beyond.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Perinatal, mental health, women's mental health, resource constrained settings, LMICs

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.