Mapping the contextual mental health interventions for perinatal adolescent mothers with self-reported common mental symptoms (anxiety and depression) in sub-Saharan African countries: a scoping review.

Introduction: Early preventive interventions may support adolescent mothers' mental health during the perinatal period. However, adolescent maternal mental health interventions have received little empirical research attention. This scoping review maps the evidence on interventions appropriate for adolescent mothers during the perinatal period in Sub-Saharan African countries.Methods: The process was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology for scoping reviews. Five databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and ProQuest, were searched for citations of studies published from 2000. The reporting is according to Preferred Reporting for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA).Results: The initial search of databases resulted in 2 757 records. After duplicates were removed, 311 records were screened, and eight records included. Interventions included five key strategies: cognitive behavioural therapy; group problem-solving; psychoeducation; psychosocial group counselling; and integrated mothers and babies course and early childhood development group-based intervention. None of the interventions specifically targeted adolescent mothers, however.Discussion and conclusion: There is limited evidence of interventions specific to adolescent mothers. There is a need for the development, implementation and evaluation of specific interventions relevant to this population group.

Maternal mental health of adolescent mothers: a cross-sectional mixed-method study protocol to determine cultural and social factors and mental health needs in Lilongwe, Malawi.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescence marks a transition of life from childhood to adulthood. Becoming a mother during adolescence presents unique challenges that have a significant mental and physical burden and may increase the likelihood of developing common mental disorders (CMDs). Untreated CMDs have serious effects on both the mother and her child. Culture constitutes an important context for most experiences, and affects how individuals seek help. However, there is limited research that has investigated how culture and social factors influence the adolescent mother's mental health during the postpartum period in Malawi. METHODS/DESIGN: A cross-sectional sequential mixed methods design will be carried out in four phases. Phase one will include the preparatory phase and scoping review. The second phase will comprise a survey with adolescent mothers. The sample for the survey consists of adolescent postpartum mothers aged 14-19 years (with infants of up to 6 months of age) who have the capacity to consent for the study. Phase three will be a qualitative study in which in-depth interviews and focus group discussions will be employed to collect data from health workers and informal healthcare providers in the community (eg, traditional healers, traditional birth attendants). The fourth phase will involve developing recommendations for policy and practice ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study will provide an understanding of the impact of culture and social factors that influence adolescent mother's mental health and well-being, including the identification of potential risk and protective factors. The findings will inform recommendations for an appropriate, culturally accepted spectrum of interventions, including universal, selective and indicated prevention strategies. The findings will be disseminated to stakeholders working in maternal health in Malawi. Ethical approval was received from the Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (HRE2021-0223) and (P.05/21/575) Malawian Ethics Board National Committee on Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and Humanities.