Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on Perinatal Mental Health Care in the United Arab Emirates: A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Facilitators at the Patient, Family, and Societal Levels.

INTRODUCTION

Perinatal mental disorders have a considerable impact on mothers, infants, and the overall well-being of society. The experiences of healthcare professionals (HCPs) addressing these challenges are under-researched. This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals' perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to perinatal mental health care at the patient, family, and societal levels in the UAE.

METHODS

This qualitative research utilized a descriptive qualitative approach, gathering data through three focus group discussions and 28 individual interviews with 43 HCPs from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain between May and November 2023. The data were analyzed thematically using the MATRix framework, focusing on barriers and facilitators to perinatal mental health (PMH) care at the levels of the patient, family, and society.

RESULTS

Key barriers identified included patient-level fear of stigma, family-level low mental health literacy and denial, and societal-level cultural taboos. Facilitators involved patients' psychological readiness to seek help, strong family and spousal support, and culturally ingrained postpartum care practices such as the traditional 40-day care period.

DISCUSSION: Addressing PMH requires multi-level strategies, including family-focused mental health literacy interventions, public campaigns to reduce stigma, and policies supporting culturally sensitive postpartum care. This study offers context-specific insights that can be applied to diverse cultural populations.