Other Titles
Rising Star Poster/Presentation - Rapid Presentation Round
Abstract
Introduction: Pregnant and parenting adolescents (PPA) experience perinatal mental health (PMH) disorders, especially perinatal anxiety (PA) and perinatal depression (PND), 3 - 4 times more in comparison to adult mothers. Despite the burden of PND and PA in this population, most of the existing resources and interventions, are either not readily available or targeted to serve the PMH needs of this vulnerable population. This integrative review aims to capture the current state of the science of PND and PA in PPA, focusing on their PMH knowledge, perception of preventive practices, PMH needs, preferences for care, and access to available PMH supports and interventions.
Methods: Whittemore and Knafl's five-stage methodology was adopted for this study. We searched 5 electronic databases: CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Psycharticles, and Scopus in May 2023. Selected articles were published between 2010-2023 to synthesize recent findings and incorporate other geographical perspectives and contexts. Critical appraisal was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Results: Twenty-three studies were included, over 60% were conducted in the USA, while the rest were across Africa, Asia, and the United Kingdom. PPA did not identify PND as a central problem, rather PND was attributed to other psychosocial issues, and this inhibited them from engaging in any preventive behaviors. PPA expects that PMH services or care should support not only their physical or mental health but also target other psychosocial issues. PPA prefers and prioritizes care that is family-focused, community-based, readily accessible, and has a mix of informal and professional support. There was conflicting evidence regarding individual or group-based care. Facilitators and barriers to existing PMH services/interventions were categorized as practical, interpersonal, and cultural.
Conclusion: There is a gap in assessing the knowledge of PND and PA among PPA, and their ability to differentiate between PND and PA, especially when they co-occur. The PMH needs of PPA go beyond the prevention or treatment of PND and PA, however, little is known about PPA perception of PND/PA prevention. It is not clear what factors motivate PPA to engage with PMH services/resources or serve as barriers. This can inform the development of more innovative and culturally relevant interventions.
Notes
References:
Ojeleye, O.A., Beckie, T.M., & Oruche, U. M. (2023). Psychosocial factors associated with perinatal anxiety and perinatal depression among adolescents: A Rapid Review. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 0(0), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20230821-02
Oladeji, B. D., Bello, T., Ayinde, O., Idowu, P., & Gureje, O. (2022). Prevalence and correlates of depression among pregnant adolescents in primary maternal care in Nigeria. Archives of women's mental health, 25(2), 441-450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-021-01198-1
Recto, P., & Champion, J. D. (2018). "We Don't Want to be Judged": Perceptions about Professional Help and Attitudes Towards Help-Seeking among Pregnant and Postpartum Mexican-American Adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 42, 111-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2018.04.010
Hackett, K. (2020). Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Parenting Teens. Policy Lab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. https://doi.org/http://bitly.com/MentalHealth-ParentingTeens
Hong QN, Pluye P, Fàbregues S, Bartlett G, Boardman F, Cargo M, Dagenais P, Gagnon M-P, Griffiths F, Nicolau B, O’Cathain A, Rousseau M-C, Vedel I. Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), version 2018. Registration of Copyright (#1148552), Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Industry Canada
Bledsoe, S. E., Rizo, C. F., Wike, T. L., Killian-Farrell, C., Wessel, J., Bellows, A.-M. O., & Doernberg, A. (2017). Pregnant adolescent women’s perceptions of depression and psychiatric services in the United States. Women & Birth, 30(5), e248-e257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2017.02.006
Jack, S. M., Duku, E., Whitty, H., Van Lieshout, R. J., Niccols, A., Georgiades, K., & Lipman, E. L. (2022). Young mothers' use of and experiences with mental health care services in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative descriptive study. BMC Womens Health, 22(1), 214. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01804-z
Muzik, M., Kirk, R., Alfafara, E., Jonika, J., & Waddell, R. (2016). Teenage mothers of black and minority ethnic origin want access to a range of mental and physical health support: a participatory research approach. Health Expectations, 19(2), 403-415. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12364
Sigma Membership
Delta Beta at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Depression -- Psychosocial Factors -- In Adolescence, Anxiety -- Psychosocial Factors -- In Adolescence, Perinatal Period, Mental Health Services, Patient Preference, Health Services Accessibility
Recommended Citation
Ojeleye, Olajumoke, "Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents: Knowledge, Perception, Care Preferences and Access to PMH Care" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 35.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/35
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-02-13
Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents: Knowledge, Perception, Care Preferences and Access to PMH Care
Washington, DC, USA
Introduction: Pregnant and parenting adolescents (PPA) experience perinatal mental health (PMH) disorders, especially perinatal anxiety (PA) and perinatal depression (PND), 3 - 4 times more in comparison to adult mothers. Despite the burden of PND and PA in this population, most of the existing resources and interventions, are either not readily available or targeted to serve the PMH needs of this vulnerable population. This integrative review aims to capture the current state of the science of PND and PA in PPA, focusing on their PMH knowledge, perception of preventive practices, PMH needs, preferences for care, and access to available PMH supports and interventions.
Methods: Whittemore and Knafl's five-stage methodology was adopted for this study. We searched 5 electronic databases: CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Psycharticles, and Scopus in May 2023. Selected articles were published between 2010-2023 to synthesize recent findings and incorporate other geographical perspectives and contexts. Critical appraisal was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
Results: Twenty-three studies were included, over 60% were conducted in the USA, while the rest were across Africa, Asia, and the United Kingdom. PPA did not identify PND as a central problem, rather PND was attributed to other psychosocial issues, and this inhibited them from engaging in any preventive behaviors. PPA expects that PMH services or care should support not only their physical or mental health but also target other psychosocial issues. PPA prefers and prioritizes care that is family-focused, community-based, readily accessible, and has a mix of informal and professional support. There was conflicting evidence regarding individual or group-based care. Facilitators and barriers to existing PMH services/interventions were categorized as practical, interpersonal, and cultural.
Conclusion: There is a gap in assessing the knowledge of PND and PA among PPA, and their ability to differentiate between PND and PA, especially when they co-occur. The PMH needs of PPA go beyond the prevention or treatment of PND and PA, however, little is known about PPA perception of PND/PA prevention. It is not clear what factors motivate PPA to engage with PMH services/resources or serve as barriers. This can inform the development of more innovative and culturally relevant interventions.
Description
Despite high rates of PND and PA among PPA, existing resources don't meet their mental health needs. Identifying gaps in PPA's knowledge and perception of these illnesses is crucial for developing culturally-relevant solutions.