The importance of digital tools in promoting and enhancing mental health in the antenatal and postnatal period
An umbrella review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2026.60.Suppl.1.3330Keywords:
telemedicina, mental health, pregnancy, deliveryAbstract
Introduction: Mental health problems can affect a patient’s ability to care for herself and her newborn. The aim of this review is to establish the link between antenatal and postnatal mental health care and the use of digital tools to support mental health.
Methods: In February and March 2024, an umbrella review of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses was conducted. The literature search was conducted in February and March 2024 in the Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus databases and analysed using thematic analysis of qualitative research findings. The following combinations of keywords were used: “telemedicine”, “mental health”, “pregnancy”, and “delivery”, with the Boolean operators AND and OR. We critically appraised the results using the F-E-A-T model. The literature selection and screening process is shown in the PRISMA diagram. Thematic analysis was conducted through systematic coding of the findings.
Results: We identified 11 systematic literature reviews addressing mental health support in the antenatal and postnatal periods. The review focused on the effectiveness of mental health support interventions in these periods, with screening programmes and the development of digital content being the most frequently evaluated approaches.
Discussion and conclusion: Mental health support, especially during the antenatal and postnatal periods, is crucial for the optimal progress of both mother and newborn. We identified key associations that could inform future research aimed at modernising digital treatment of mental health issues, particularly in relation to the antenatal and postnatal periods.
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