Perspectives and support needs for a spouse-inclusive digital intervention for perinatal depression and anxiety: a qualitative study.
Amalia Kamaruddin, Siti Roshaidai Mohd Arifin, Noor Azimah Muhammad and 5 others
PMID 42419907WHAT IT FOUND
Women and spouses described perinatal distress as emotional, cognitive, and social.
They suggested a spouse-inclusive app with symptom information, communication and role guidance, and trusted professional content.
Key findings
01Perinatal women reported emotional, cognitive, and physical distress affecting daily functioning, while spouses focused more on external roles and practical responsibilities.
02Women emphasized active spousal participation and support from family or friends, while spouses acknowledged their role but described limitations in fulfilling it.
03Both groups preferred user-friendly digital interventions, with women prioritizing interactive awareness features and spouses seeking practical guidance for their supportive role.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most participants were Malay, because Chinese and Indian recruitment attempts were unsuccessful, so cultural and language diversity is limited. Most women were antenatal and few postnatal women took part, so experiences after birth are less well represented. Women and spouses were not recruited as matched couples, so paired responses could not be compared directly. The sample included more first-time pregnancies than later pregnancies, which may affect the balance of experiences. One researcher conducted the interviews and coding, with review by team members, and the sample was small and purposive, so findings are not generalizable.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest. Funding came from the IIUM Industry Matching Grant Scheme and the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme awarded by the Ministry of Education Malaysia.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that a spouse-inclusive digital app improves perinatal depression or anxiety. The study only asked women and spouses what they experienced and wanted, and no intervention was tested.