City Research Online

Abstract

Common perinatal mental health conditions (CPMHC) are especially prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and are associated with numerous adverse effects. While complex interventions have been developed and tested, there has been limited exploration of how these interventions can be implemented and sustained at scale. This scoping review aims to explore the strategies discussed for scaling, spreading, and sustaining complex perinatal mental health interventions in LMICs. We conducted a systematic search in APA PsycINFO, Cinahl, Medline (EBSCOhost), Embase, MIDIRS (Ovid Online), and ProQuest for reports published between January 2010 and November 2023, using search terms related to scaling innovations, perinatal mental health, and LMICs. We also conducted a grey literature search using the websites of organisations that focus on maternal mental health. We identified 42 information sources. Using thematic synthesis, scale, spread and sustainability strategies regarding workforce diversity, integration health services, tool and method development, adaptation, training, supervision and support and stakeholder engagement were identified. The study identified persistent gaps in the literature around how interventions move beyond early adaptation and implementation phases. These included the need for more consistency and shared understanding around terminology and increased interdisciplinary collaboration, especially drawing on fields such as implementation science and organisation studies. The findings from this review open new avenues for research and policy on expanding perinatal mental health interventions in LMICs, with an emphasis on long-term sustainability and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Publisher Keywords:	Perinatal Mental Health; Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs); Scale; Spread; Sustainability; Scoping Review
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Population Health & Policy
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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