Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35854232›Full record

SynthesisBMC pregnancy and childbirth2022

Perinatal mental health literacy: knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking among perinatal women and the public - a systematic review.

Daria Daehn, Sophie Rudolf, Silke Pawils, Babette Renneberg

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 52 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
52citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

52 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  9. Patient Activation in the Postpartum Period by Race, Ethnicity, and Spoken Language.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Daria DaehnDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195, Berlin, Germany. d.daehn@fu-berlin.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7373-6367
Sophie RudolfDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
Silke PawilsDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Babette RennebergDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195, Berlin, Germany.

Funding

Damp Stiftung 2019-22
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe perinatal period is a time of increased vulnerability to mental health problems, however, only a small proportion of women seek help. Poor mental health literacy (MHL) is a major barrier to seeking help for mental health problems. This study aimed to collect the existing evidence of MHL associated with perinatal mental health problems (PMHP) among perinatal women and the public. This review analysed which tools were used to assess perinatal MHL as well as the findings concerning individual components of perinatal MHL.

methodsFour electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL) were analysed from their inception until September 1, 2020. Not only quantitative studies reporting on components of MHL (knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking), but also studies reporting overall levels of MHL relating to PMHP were taken into account. Two independent reviewers were involved in the screening and extraction process and data were analysed descriptively.

resultsThirty-eight of the 13,676 retrieved articles satisfied the inclusion criteria. The majority of selected studies examined MHL related to PMHP in perinatal women (N = 28). The most frequently examined component of MHL in the selected data set was help-seeking. A lack of uniformity in assessing MHL components was found. The most common focus of these studies was postpartum depression. It was found that the ability to recognize PMHP and to identify relevant symptoms was lacking among both perinatal women and the public. Perinatal women had low intentions of seeking help for PMHP and preferred seeking help from informal sources while reporting a variety of structural and personal barriers to seeking help. Stigmatizing attitudes associated with PMHP were found among the public.

conclusionsThere is a need for educational campaigns and interventions to improve perinatal MHL in perinatal women and the public as a whole.

Indexed as

Health LiteracyFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansIntentionMental HealthPregnancyHelp-seekingMental health literacyPerinatal mental healthStigma

Identifiers

PMID35854232
PMCPMC9295513

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.