Blueprint for better Maternal Mental Health Policy: A comprehensive exploration of policy structure, healthcare providers’ insights, and stakeholders’ engagement

Title: Blueprint for Better Maternal Mental Health Policy: A Comprehensive Exploration of Policy Structure, Healthcare Providers’ Insights, and Stakeholders’ Engagement

Type of Study: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Aims & Objectives:

1. Evaluate healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Maternal Mental Health (MMH).
2. Analyze state health policies on MMH, focusing on Kerala and Telangana.
3. Evaluate the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) and Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child Health Adolescents (RMNCHA) Program with an intersectional approach.
4. Explore stakeholders’ perceptions, influence, impact, networks, and roles in MMH policymaking.

Justification:

There is a lack of adequate training, standardized tools, and treatment protocols for MMH in India.

Existing policies often neglect MMH, highlighting the need for inclusion and exploration of barriers.

Evaluation of existing mental health programs and research on cost-effective resource allocation is essential.

Departments Involved: Psychiatry, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics (Recruitment Site), Division of Biochemistry (Co-coordinating department), DBMS, MAHE, and Psychiatry department, KMC, Manipal.

Study Period: 3 years.

Sample Size:

Objective 1: Part 1 - n=20, Part 2 - n=20.

Materials and Methods:

Inclusion Criteria: Healthcare providers from obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry departments; tertiary healthcare facilities with the relevant departments.

Statistical Methods: SPSS software; frequency analysis, chi-square test, and correlation analysis.

Tools Used: Self-reported semi-structured questionnaire.

Phases of the Study:

Phase 1

Objective: Assess knowledge, attitude, and perception of healthcare providers towards MMH.

Method: Development and validation of a self-reported questionnaire, telephonic survey of healthcare facilities.

Phase 2

Objective: Analyze state health policies on MMH in Kerala and Telangana.

Method: Case study analysis, policy evaluation using various health surveys and proxy indicators.

Phase 3

Method: SWOC analysis, Health-related Policy Analysis Tool (HrPAT), gender-responsive evaluation, Shiffman and Smith Framework analysis, and intersectionality-based policy analysis (IBPA).

Objective: Evaluate NMHP and RMNCHA programs.

Phase 4

Objective: Explore the roles and networks of stakeholders in MMH policymaking.

Method: Stakeholder mapping, MCDA tool, focus group discussions, social network analysis (SNA), development of a stakeholder engagement framework.

Outcome Measures

Integration of MMH into national and state policies.

Evaluation of program effectiveness in MMH.

Recommendations for policy and program enhancements.

Potential Risks and Benefits

Benefits: Contribution to SDG 3 by improving maternal health outcomes and mental well-being through enhanced policies, training, and program effectiveness.

Ethical Considerations: Ensuring informed consent, privacy, conflict disclosure, and regulatory compliance.

Budget and Funding:

Self-funded with an estimated budget of INR 1,40,000.

Grant application submitted to the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

Review of Literature:

Highlights the gaps in MMH knowledge, training, and policy integration.

Emphasizes the need for tailored training, standardized protocols, and comprehensive policy and program evaluation.