Frontline health professionals' perinatal depression literacy: A systematic review

Perinatal depression is a highly prevalent mental health problem with severe consequences, which is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. Frontline health professionals directly assisting and providing regular care to women in pregnancy and postpartum period play a critical role in early detection and management of perinatal depression. Therefore, it is important to assess their knowledge and beliefs towards perinatal depression, in order to improve its recognition and management.

To synthesize the current literature about the levels of perinatal depression literacy (defined in terms of recognition and knowledge of symptoms, causes, risk factors and treatment options, beliefs, and attitudes) among frontline health professionals working with perinatal women.

A systematic review of the literature was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020172018). Six electronic databases were searched for eligible studies. Quantitative and qualitative studies published in English reporting findings on perinatal depression literacy among health professionals working with perinatal population were included. Pharmacists, medical or nursing students, volunteer workers, religious leaders, community leader and birth attendants were excluded from the target population. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias.

From the 3172 papers screened, a total of 43 were included. All studies were classified with strong or moderate quality. Frontline health professionals presented average levels of perinatal depression literacy. However, a lack of knowledge about the definition, prevalence, symptoms, risk factors, screening tools and treatments for perinatal depression was found in several studies, which could act as barriers to providing proper care to perinatal women. Health professionals' knowledge and attitudes seemed to differ across countries.

The findings of this systematic review highlight the need to provide health professionals with training to increase their levels of knowledge about perinatal depression and to promote more positive attitudes towards it, which can potentially increase their confidence and skills in its management and treatment.