- Programme created trusting group spaces, expert-led childbirth and postpartum preparation, plus brief postnatal follow-up, increasing women's confidence to identify vulnerability and seek support.
- Benefits depended on feasible scheduling, group formats, reusable materials and coordinated delivery across professionals to prevent fragmented care and support continuity.
- System-level factors such as reach, retention and cross-provider coordination were central to sustaining uptake and integrating the programme into routine antenatal care.
Int J Circumpolar Health. 2026 Dec 31;85(1):2714730. doi: 10.1080/22423982.2026.2714730. Epub 2026 Aug 5.
ABSTRACT
Supporting maternal mental health is a priority in circumpolar settings, where seasonality and constrained service availability can limit psychosocial support. This qualitative study explored pregnant women’s and healthcare providers’ experiences of a postpartum depression prevention programme and perspectives on integrating it into routine antenatal care in Arkhangelsk, Northwest Russia. Four focus group discussions with pregnant women (n = 17) and individual interviews with four healthcare providers were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants described the programme as providing trusting spaces for sharing, expert-led preparation for childbirth and the postpartum period, and brief individual follow-up after birth. Women reported greater confidence in identifying signs of vulnerability, articulating needs, and accessing support. Providers highlighted that these benefits depended on feasible scheduling, group formats, reusable materials, and coordinated delivery across professionals to avoid fragmentation. System-level factors (reach, retention, and cross-provider coordination) were seen as central for sustained uptake and routine integration. The findings suggest that the programme’s contribution lies in the interaction between participant experiences of support and the organisational conditions needeed to sustain them in routine antenatal care. Preventive perinatal mental health programmes in circumpolar contexts can strengthen preparedness and help-seeking when designed for relational participation and supported by coordinated service structures.
PMID:42554516 | DOI:10.1080/22423982.2026.2714730
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