Defining the ‘village’: what systems exist to support maternal wellbeing, how are they accessed, by whom and what impact do they have?
Background
New mothers are experiencing an endemic of poor mental health, loneliness and lack of support. Over 1 in 10 new mothers experience postnatal depression, and suicide is a leading cause of death in the perinatal period. Support and treatment is available for clinical conditions through statutory providers, however the role of wider support systems (a ‘village’), both formal (community-based services, organised groups/activities) and informal (peers, family, online) is an under-researched area. It is likely that these systems can be beneficial but to whom, how and in what context still remains uncertain.
Methods
Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to examine formal and informal support systems and the impact these have on maternal wellbeing. Methods include semi-structured interviews, online surveys, and participatory observation. Surveys will be shared through social media and online forums. Interview participants will be recruited from survey responses. Patient and Public and Involvement (PPI) will be used to steer methods and tools. Thematic analysis will be used to develop themes and recommendations. Assemblage theory will be used to understand how elements of support interact to form a network of support (‘village’).
Aims
This research will explore wellbeing of new mothers and map existing formal and informal wellbeing support systems available. The use of, and relationships between different systems will be used to define a modern ‘village’. The research will examine barriers to and the impact of the support, identifying gaps and inequalities to produce recommendations for improvement.