Date
Fall 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Department
College of Nursing
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this project was to develop a smartphone application prototype for peripartum mental health. The goal of this application was to enhance access to education and quality mental health care.
Background: Currently, in the United States, peripartum mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality (The Joint Commission, 2023). There is a gap in education, screening, and treatment for peripartum mental health due to distrust and a lack of resources, including a lack of mental health providers (Dossette et al., 2024; Feldman & Perret, 2023). Therefore, there is a significant number of women who are underdiagnosed and undertreated, leading to poor outcomes for women, children, families, and ultimately the population (Dossette et al., 2024).
Method: The researcher created two surveys and disseminated them via social media (Instagram and Facebook) and throughout the Low Country of South Carolina. One survey was created to gather feedback from women who are currently pregnant or have given birth in the last five years. This survey was available in both English and Spanish. The second survey was for healthcare providers (MDs, NPs, PAs, and RNs) to provide feedback. These surveys included multiple-choice, open-ended, and Likert-style questions about mental health and support through an application. The results were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and based on the feedback, a prototype of a peripartum mental health app was developed.
Results: A total of 56 women and 22 healthcare providers completed the surveys. Most women reported that current peripartum mental health education (57.1%), screening (69.6%), and support (78.6%) were inadequate, while prenatal care was viewed as adequate (64.3%). Similar trends were observed among healthcare providers, with 63-73% reporting inadequate resources for peripartum mental health care. Among women, 91% reported experiencing at least one mental health concern during pregnancy or postpartum, and 91% indicated they would use a smartphone app for guidance and support. The most desired app features included education (98.2%), ask-a-nurse capability (83.9%), resources (69.6%), and mental health screening tools (62.5%). Providers also expressed strong support for app use, with 95.5% willing to recommend it to patients and 95.5% indicating they would use provider-specific features. Key concerns from both groups included information reliability and privacy. Overall, findings demonstrate a strong need and clear interest in a peripartum mental health smartphone application.
Conclusion: Survey results indicate significant gaps in peripartum mental health education, screening, and support for both patients and providers. Women and healthcare providers overwhelmingly endorsed the need for and willingness to use a smartphone application to help address these gaps. These gaps support the development of an evidence-based peripartum mental health app that offers accessible education, screening, and resources. Future research should focus on app development, pilot testing
Recommended Citation
Edmunds, Morgan, "Empowering Mothers: A Digital Intervention for Perinatal Mental Wellness" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects. 3.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/updnp/3
Rights
© Morgan Edmunds