Experiences of a postpartum depression prevention programme in a circumpolar setting

Insights from pregnant women and healthcare providers

Bibliographic Data

ID24229742
AuthorsElena Nechaeva (0000-0003-4620-5485, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)), Elisabeth Darj (0000-0002-8311-4956, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)), Jon Oyvind Odland (0000-0002-2756-0732, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)), Jennifer J Infanti (0000-0001-8772-026X, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))
Year2026
Volume85
Issue1
Pages2714730-2714730
Publication date2026-12-31
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Circumpolar Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1239-9736 • E-ISSN: 2242-3982
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/22423982.2026.2714730
PMID42554516
OpenAlexW7172521725
LanguageEN
References cited42

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.

Arkhangelsk · healthcare provider perspectives · Help-seeking · perinatal mental health · postpartum depression prevention · pregnant women's experiences · Prenatal care · program integration · Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare · Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

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