Uncoving Gaps in Maternal Mental Health Screening Within Routine Antenatal Care as a Foundation for Developing an Integrated Counselling Model: An Exploratory Study in Primary Health Care, Medan Indonesia

Abstract

Depression and anxiety during pregnancy are underreported public health issues, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study identified a lack of attention to maternal mental health in antenatal care (ANC) services at Indonesian community health centers. A mixed-methods approach was used to explore barriers to the integration of mental health into ANC. An Integrated Antenatal Counseling Model was developed and tested on 107 pregnant women, showing a significant increase in screening completion rates from 0% to 94.4%. The findings indicate a need for rigorous mental health screening and training for health workers; however, the study’s limited design suggests the need for further studies with a control group to validate the results and inform implementation recommendations in a broader context.