LAUSR

INTRODUCTION Anti, peri and postnatal depression is known to affect the relationship between infants and their mothers adversely. Previous studies have identified barriers and facilitators, reported by women and HCPs, related to the identification and management of anti, peri and postnatal depression. However, these studies considered the experiences of women separately from those of the healthcare professionals, even though their experiences of anti, peri and postnatal depression are interconnected. Additionally, there is a lack of research among people living in the Middle East, including Oman, which has one of the highest rates of anti, peri and postnatal depression globally. AIM This study aimed to explore the views and experiences of HCPs and service users relating to anti, peri and postnatal depression from the Middle East perspective. METHOD A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews was conducted. This study took place at the Family Medicine and Community Clinic at University Hospital and three selected primary healthcare centres in Muscat, between May 2020 and February 2021. Purposive sampling was used: 15 HCPs with 2-20 years of clinical experience in anti, peri and postnatal primary care and 13 pregnant patients plus 2 post-birth patients were interviewed. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim, and the anonymized transcripts were then entered into the qualitative data management software, NVIVO 12. RESULTS A thematic approach was used to analyse the data. Four themes were identified in the data, namely: 1) making sense of anti, peri and postnatal depression; 2) how to deal with anti, peri and postnatal depression; 3) barriers to addressing anti, peri and postnatal depression in primary anti, peri and postnatal care settings; 4) bridging the gap: facilitators in detecting and managing anti, peri and postnatal depression. CONCLUSIONS Improving the identification and management of anti, peri and postnatal depression in primary healthcare systems will require a whole-system approach, with interventions at the patient, practice and comprehensive primary care team levels.