Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Perinatal Depression Among Obstetric Healthcare Professionals at a...

Background Perinatal depression is a common mental health condition with substantial adverse consequences for maternal well-being and child development. In India, obstetric healthcare professionals are often the first and most consistent point of contact for women during the antenatal and postpartum periods. This places them in a pivotal position to identify and facilitate early intervention for perinatal depression. However, evidence regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to perinatal mental health remains limited. Aim The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to perinatal depression among obstetric healthcare professionals in a tertiary care setting in Mumbai and to identify perceived barriers to routine screening and management. Methods A five-month cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai. Obstetric healthcare professionals, including interns, junior residents, senior residents, and consultants, were recruited using purposive sampling. A structured, self-administered, validated questionnaire assessed professional characteristics and knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to perinatal depression. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and responses in the knowledge, attitude, and practice domains. Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Associations between categorical variables (e.g., professional designation, prior mental health training, and screening practices) were analyzed using the Chi-squared test of independence. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 92 obstetric healthcare professionals participated. While 72 (78.3%) were aware of perinatal depression as a condition affecting women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, only 39 (42.4%) reported awareness of validated screening tools. Although attitudes toward perinatal mental health were largely positive, only 25 (27.2%) reported routinely screening women. Commonly identified barriers included lack of formal training, time constraints in busy clinical settings, limited access to mental health services, and unclear referral pathways. A significant knowledge-practice gap was observed, with higher screening practices among senior clinicians and those with prior mental health training (p < 0.001). Conclusion Despite adequate knowledge and favorable attitudes, routine screening for perinatal depression remains suboptimal. Targeted training, integration of standardized screening tools into routine obstetric care, and strengthened referral pathways are essential to improve early identification and management of perinatal depression.