Enhancing Collaborative Approaches in Perinatal Mental Health: Knowledge and Attitude Changes Following a Brief Educational Programme among Health Care Providers

Background: Perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs) are a major public health concern, yet they remain under-recognised in obstetric and primary care settings, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Educational interventions targeting healthcare providers have been proposed as an effective strategy to address knowledge and practice gaps. However, evaluation of such intervention in Indian context is sparse. Objectives: The pre-post evaluation of a brief, single-day educational intervention on the knowledge and attitudes of obstetricians, paediatricians, and medical officers regarding PMHDs. Methods: A pre- and post-test design was employed during an eight-hour training workshop conducted at a neuropsychiatric institute. Structured questionnaires assessed knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices before and after intervention. Data were analysed using paired t-tests for knowledge and Wilcoxon signed rank tests for attitudes. Results: Fifty-four participants provided paired responses. Mean knowledge scores improved from 7.23 ± 1.8 to 8.64 ± 1.5 (paired t -test, P < 0.05). Attitude scores unadjusted analysis showed favourable shifts across six items (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, r = 0.32–0.48) but after Bonferroni correction only two items remained statistically significant: confidence in identifying/managing PMHD and recognition of postpartum psychosis as psychiatric emergency. Practice data indicated low baseline screening (18.5%), limited use of validated tools (EPDS use 14.8%), and variable referral patterns, with most participants expressing need for further training (90.7%). Conclusions: A single-day educational intervention improved knowledge and attitude regarding perinatal mental health among multidisciplinary healthcare providers. Participant feedback highlighted the need for dedicated perinatal mental health clinics with multidisciplinary teams, alongside systemic solutions such as regular training, screening integration into antenatal care, and improved referral pathways.