Midwives’ perspectives on exploring emotional well-being during prenatal and postnatal care in the Italian contest: a qualitative study (the BEN_EM_OS study)

Problem: Perinatal mental health issues, including depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, affect 10-20% of women during pregnancy and postpartum. Despite routine healthcare contact, 50% of cases go undetected and untreated. Background: Maternal health issues are crucial for maternal well-being, infant development, and family functioning. However, gaps exist in screening practices and service provision across healthcare systems. In Italy, midwives provide comprehensive care, emotional support, and risk factor evaluation. The Italian Ministry of Health launched a project in 2016 to assess psychological well-being during antenatal and postnatal care, and midwives play a crucial role in screening women at risk of mental health difficulties. Aim: This study aims to explore Italian midwives’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators to mental health screening during prenatal and postnatal care. Methods: This study uses Thorne’s interpretive description methodology. A sample of 24 midwives was recruited. Information about their experiences and strategies used during the mental health wellbeing screening was explored through in-depth interviews. The constant comparative method was used to analyze the data Findings: According to the study funding, midwives address the topic of emotional well-being throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period by drawing on five professional knowledge pillars: Maieutic Communication, Waiting for the right moment, Empathy, Empowerment, Intuition Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of assessing emotional and psychological well-being during pregnancy and postpartum, with midwives playing a crucial role