The PMHP generates knowledge to strengthen maternal mental health systems in low resource settings
The aim of the PMHP’s Knowledge Generation focus area is to conduct research or collaborate with others’ research to address critical information gaps and real-world service problems. We aim to translate research findings for a range of audiences and to disseminate this knowledge effectively. Our research work significantly informs, and is informed by, the other focus areas of our work.
Academic publications
Exploring Empathic Communication Among Community Health Workers: Applying the ENACT Tool in Two South African Sites (2024)
C Laurenzi, S Rabie, S Mamutse, S Skeen, N Jansen van Vuuren, R Neethling, S Field, S Honikman Health Promotion Practice
DOI: 10.1177/15248399241285888
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Perinatal Mental Health: An African perspective (2024)
S Honikman African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
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A global perspective: Access to mental health care for perinatal populations (2024)
C Wilson, M Bublitz, P Chandra, S Hanley, S Honikman, S Kittel-Schneider, SC Zanghellini Ruckl, P Leahy-Warren, N Byatt SEMIN PERINATOL
DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2024.151942
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Prevalence of maternal depression and anxiety symptoms and associations with child mental health outcomes in rural Nepal (2023)
A Dielemans, P Mahat, JA Dunn, E Balcke, RK Jha, S Ghimire, H Gaire, S Honikman, Trop Med Int Health
DOI:10.1111/tmi.13956
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Adapting brief problem-solving therapy for pregnant women experiencing depressive symptoms and intimate partner violence in rural Ethiopia (2023)
R Keynejad, T Bitew, K Sorsdahl, B Myers, S Honikman, A Mulushoa, M Demissie, N Deyessa, L Howard and C Hanlon, Scientific Reports, 13
DOI:10.1080/10503307.2023.2222899
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Facilitators and barriers to detection and treatment of depression, anxiety and experiences of domestic violence in pregnant women (2023)
Z Abrahams, S Boisits, M Schneider, S Honikman and C Lund, Scientific Reports, 13
DOI:1038/s41598-023-36150-z
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Gender (in)equity in global mental health research: A call to action (2023)
K Rose-Clarke and The Women in Global Mental Health Research Group, Transcultural Psychiatry
DOI:10.1177/13634615231180376
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Costs of common perinatal mental health problems in South Africa (2022)
A Bauer, E Garman, D Besada, S Field, M Knapp, S Honikman, Global Mental Health, 1-10
DOI:10.1017/gmh.2022.48
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A mixed-methods feasibility study of Nyamekela4Care: An intervention to support improved quality of care among service providers in low-resource settings (2022)
S Rabie, CA Laurenzi, S Field, S Skeen, S Honikman, Social Science and Medicine Mental Health, 2
DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100154
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Adapting an intervention of brief problem-solving therapy to improve the health of women with antenatal depressive symptoms in primary healthcare in rural Ethiopia (2022)
T Bitew, R Keynejad, B Myers, S Honikman, K Sorsdahl, C Hanlon, Pilot Feasibility Stud 8, 202
DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01166-1
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Implementation outcomes of a health systems strengthening intervention for perinatal women with common mental disorders and experiences of domestic violence in South Africa: Pilot feasibility and acceptability study (2022)
Z Abrahams, Y Jacobs, M Mohlamonyane, S Boisits, M Schneider, S Honikman, C Lund, BMC Health Services Research 22:641
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08050-x
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Health systems strengthening interventions for perinatal common mental disorders and experiences of domestic violence in Cape Town, South Africa: protocol for a pilot implementation study (2022)
Z Abrahams, M Schneider, S Honikman, P Olckers, S Boisits, N Seward, C Lund, Pilot Feasibility Stud 8, 100
DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01053-9
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Comment: silent burden no more: a global call to action to prioritize perinatal mental health (2022)
S McNab, J Fisher, S Honikman, L Muvhu, R Levine, G Chorwe‑Sungani, S Bar‑Zeev, T D Hailegebriel, I Yusuf, N Chowdhary, A Rahman, P Bolton, C‑H Mershon, M Bormet, D Henry‑Ernest, A Portela, S Stalls, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 22:308
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04645-8
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Group problem solving therapy for perinatal depression in primary health care settings in rural Uganda: an intervention cohort study (2021)
J E M Nakku, O Nalwadda, E Garman, S Honikman, C Hanlon, F Kigozi, C Lund, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 21:584
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04043-6
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Developing a task-sharing psychological intervention to treat mild to moderate symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety in South Africa: a mixed-method formative study (2021)
S Boisits, Z Abrahams, M Schneider, S Honikman, D Kaminer and C Lund, Int J Ment Health Syst15, 23
DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00443-5
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Brief problem-solving therapy for antenatal depressive symptoms in primary care in rural Ethiopia: protocol for a randomised, controlled feasibility trial (2021)
T Bitew, R Keynejad, B Myers, S Honikman, G Medhin, F Girma, L Howard, K Sorsdahl and C Hanlon, Pilot Feasibility Stud 7, 35
DOI: 10.1186/s40814-021-00773-8
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Perinatal depression and anxiety in resource-constrained settings: interventions and health systems strengthening (2020)
S Honikman, S Sigwebela, M Schneider, S Field, Chapter in South African Health Review 2020
ISBN 978-1-928479-06-2
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Perinatal mental health around the world: priorities for research and service development in Africa (2020)
M Ng’oma, T Bitew, M Kaiyo-Utete, C Hanlon, S Honikman and R C Stewart, BJPsych International
DOI: 10.1192/bji.2020.16
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Stakeholder perspectives on antenatal depression and the potential for psychological intervention in rural Ethiopia: a qualitative study (2020)
T Bitew, R Keynejad, S Honikman, K Sorsdahl, B Myers, A Fekadu, C Hanlon, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03069-6
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Problem solving therapy (PST) tailored for intimate partner violence (IPV) versus standard PST and enhanced usual care for pregnant women experiencing IPV in rural Ethiopia: protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial (2020)
R Keynejad, T Bitew, K Sorsdahl, B Myers, S Honikman, G Medhin, N Deyessa, N Sevdalis, W Tol, L Howard, C Hanlon, Trials, 21, Article number: 454
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04331-0
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Adolescent mothers: A qualitative study on barriers and facilitators to mental health in a low-resource setting in Cape Town, South Africa (2020)
S Field, Z Abrahams, S Honikman, African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, Vol 12, No 1, a2279
DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2279
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Food Insecurity, Maternal Mental Health, and Domestic Violence: A Call for a Syndemic Approach to Research and Interventions (2020)
C Laurenzi, S Field, S Honikman, Maternal and Child Health Journal
DOI:10.1007/s10995-019-02872-8
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Task-sharing of psychological treatment for antenatal depression in Khayelitsha, South Africa: Effects on antenatal and postnatal outcomes in an individual randomised controlled trial (2019)
C Lund, M Schneider, E C. Garman, T Davies, M Munodawafa, S Honikman, A Bhana, J Bass, P Bolton, M Dewey, J Joska, A Kagee, L Myer, I Petersen, M Prince, D J. Stein, H Tabana et al., Behaviour Research and Therapy
DOI:10.1016/j.brat.2019.103466
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Maternal Mental Health in South Africa and the Opportunity for Integration (2019)
S Honikman, S Field, chapter in: Fritzsche K., McDaniel S., Wirsching M. (eds) Psychosomatic Medicine. Springer, Cham
DOI:10.1007/978-3-030-27080-3_27
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Validation of a brief mental health screening tool for pregnant women in a low socio-economic setting (2019)
Z Abrahams, M Schneider, S Field, S Honikman, BMC Psychol 7, 77
DOI:10.1186/s40359-019-0355-3
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Maternal, child and adolescent mental health: An ecological life course perspective (2019)
X Hunt, S Skeen, S Honikman, J Bantjes, K Matlwa Mabaso, S Docrat, M Tomlinson, Child Gauge 2019
ISBN: 978-0-620-85838-0
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The development of an ultra-short, maternal mental health screening tool in South Africa (2019)
T v Heyningen, L Myer, M Tomlinson, S Field, S Honikman, Global Mental Health
DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2019.21
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The Secret History method and the development of an ethos of care: Preparing the maternity environment for integrating mental health care in South Africa (2019)
S Honikman, S Field, S Cooper, Transcultural Psychiatry
DOI: 10.1177/1363461519844640
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Accessible continued professional development for maternal mental health (2019)
S Field, A Abrahams, D L Woods, R Turner, M N Onah, D K Kaura, S Honikman, African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine, 11(1), a1902
DOI: 10.4102/phcfm. v11i1.1902
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Characteristics of perinatal depression in rural central, India: a cross‑sectional study (2018)
S. D. Rathod, S Honikman, C Hanlon, R Shidhaye, International Journal of Mental Health Systems
DOI: 10.1186/s13033-018-0248-5
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Domestic and intimate partner violence among pregnant women in a low resource setting in South Africa: a facility-based, mixed methods study (2018)
S Field, M Onah, T v Heyningen, S Honikman, BMC Women’s Health
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-018-0612-2
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Partnerships in a Global Mental Health Research Programme—the Example of PRIME (2018)
E Breuer, C Hanlon, A Bhana, D Chisholm, M De Silva, A Fekadu, S Honikman, M Jordans, T Kathree, F Kigozi, NP Luitel, M Marx, G Medhin, V Murhar, S Ndyanabangi, V Patel, I Petersen, M Prince, S Raja, SD Rathod, R Shidhaye, J Ssebunnya, G Thornicroft, M Tomlinson, T Wolde-Giorgis, C Lund Global Social Welfare
DOI: 10.1007/s40609-018-0128-6
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Intercultural Adaptation of the “Secret History” Training: From South Africa to Germany (2018)
E Hänselmann, C Knapp, M Wirsching, S Honikman, Global Health Collaboration, Chapter 4
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-77685-9
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Adapting a perinatal empathic training method from South Africa to Germany From South Africa to Germany (2018)
C Knapp, S Honikman, M Wirsching, G Husni-Pascha, E Hänselmann, Pilot and Feasibility Studies
DOI: 10.1186/s40814-018-0292-6
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Comparison of mental health screening tools for detecting antenatal depression and anxiety disorders in South African women (2018)
T v Heyningen, S Honikman, M Tomlinson, S Field, L Myer, PLoS ONE 13(4): e0193697,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193697
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Postpartum psychiatric disorders (2018)
S Meltzer-Brody, L M Howard, V Bergink, S Vigod, I Jones, T Munk-Olsen, S Honikman, J Milgrom, Nature Reviews Disease Primers
DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2018.22
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Factors associated with household food insecurity and depression in pregnant South African women from a low socio-economic setting: a cross-sectional study (2018)
Z Abrahams, C Lund, S Field, S Honikman, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-018-1497-y
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Prevalence and predictors of anxiety disorders amongst low-income pregnant women in urban South Africa: a cross-sectional study (2017)
T v Heyningen, S Honikman, L Myer, M N Onah, S Field, M Tomlinson, Archives of Women’s Mental Health,
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-017-0768-z
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Antenatal depressive symptoms and perinatal complications: a prospective study in rural Ethiopia (2017)
T Bitew, C Hanlon, E Kebede, S Honikman, A Fekuda, BMC Psychiatry (2017) 17:301,
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-017-1462-4
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‘First 1000 days’ health interventions in low- and middle-income countries: alignment of South African policies with high-quality evidence (2017)
R English, N Peer, S Honikman, A Tugendhaft, K J Hofman, Global Health Action, 10:1, 1340396,
DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2017.1340396
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Antenatal depressive symptoms and utilisation of delivery and postnatal care: a prospective study in rural Ethiopia (2017)
T Bitew, C Hanlon, E Kebede, S Honikman, M N Onah, A Fekadu, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth BMC series; DOI: 10.1186/s12884-017-1383-8
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Synthesising Global and Local Knowledge for the Development of Maternal Mental Health Care: Two Cases from South Africa (2017)
S Cooper, S Honikman, I Meintjes, M Tomlinson, The Palgrave Handbook of Sociocultural Perspectives on Global Mental Health, Chapter 23
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Perinatal suicidal ideation and behaviour: psychiatry and adversity (2016)
M N Onah, S Field, J Bantjes, S Honikman, Archives of Women’s Mental Health; DOI: 10.1007/s00737-016-0706-5
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Maternal mental health and the first 1 000 days (2016)
R E Turner, S Honikman, South African Medical Journal;106(12):1164-1167. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106.i12.12129
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Perinatal mental health care in a rural African district, Uganda: a qualitative study of barriers, facilitators and needs (2016)
J E M Nakku, E S Okello, D Kizza, S Honikman, J Ssebunnya, S Ndyanabangi, C Hanlon, F Kigozi, BMC Health Service Research, DOI 10.1186/s12913-016-1547-7
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Antenatal depression and adversity in urban South Africa (2016)
T v Heyningen, L Myer, M N Onah, M Tomlinson, S Field, S Honikman, Journal of Affective Disorders, DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2016.05.052
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Predictors of alcohol and other drug use among pregnant women in a peri-urban South African setting (2016)
M N Onah, S Field, T v Heyningen, S Honikman, International Journal of Mental Health Systems, DOI: 10.1186/s13033-016-0070-x
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Integrating mental health into South Africa’ s health system : current status and way forward (2016)
M Schneider, E C Baron, E Breuer, SDocrat, S Honikman, A Kagee, M N Onah, S Skeen, K Sorsdahl, M Tomlinson, C vd Westhuizen, C Lund, South African Health Review, 2016, Chapter 13, Durban: Health Systems Trust
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Breastfeeding in South Africa : are we making progress? (2016)
Lisanne du Plessis, Nazia Peer, Simone Honikman, René English, South African Health Review, 2016, Chapter 10, Durban: Health Systems Trust
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Maternal mental health in primary care in five low- and middle-income countries: a situational analysis (2016)
E C Baron, C Hanlon, S Mall, S Honikman, E Breuer1, T Kathree, N P Luitel, J Nakku, C Lund, G Medhin, V Patel, I Petersen, S Shrivastava, M Tomlinson, Health Services Research, 2016, DOI 10.1186/s12913-016-1291-z
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District mental healthcare plans for five low-and middle-income countries: commonalities, variations and evidence gaps (2015)
C Hanlon, A Fekadu, M Jordans, F Kigozi, I Petersen, R Shidhaye, S Honikman, C Lund, M Prince, S Raja, G Thornicroft, M Tomlinson, V Patel, British Journal of Psychiatry, 2015 Oct 7. pii: bjp.bp.114.153767.
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Generating evidence to narrow the treatment gap for mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: Rationale, Overview and Methods of AFFIRM (2015)
C Lund, A Alem, M Schneider, C Hanlon, J Ahrens, C Bandawe, J Bass, A Bhana, J Burns, D Chibanda, F Cowan, T Davies, M Dewey, A Fekadu, M Freeman, S Honikman, J Joska, A Kagee, R Mayston, G Medhin, S Musisi, L Myer, T Ntulo, M Nyatsanza, A Ofori-Atta, I Petersen, S Phakathi, M Prince, T Shibre, D.J. Stein, L Swartz, G Thornicroft, M Tomlinson, L Wissow, E Susser, Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. April 2015 DOI:10.1017/S2045796015000281
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Creating capabilities through maternal mental health Interventions: a case study at Hanover Park, Cape Town (2015)
I Meintjes, S Field, T Van Heyningen, S Honikman, Journal of International Development, 27, 234–250 DOI: 10.1002/jid.3063
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Abuse in South African maternity settings is a disgrace: Potential solutions to the problem (Editorial) (2015)
S Honikman, S Fawcus, I Meintjes, The South African Medical Journal, April, Vol. 105, No. 4, 284 – 286.
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Patterns of use of a maternal mental health service in a low-resource antenatal setting in South Africa (2014)
E Baron, S Field, Z Kafaar, S Honikman, Health and Social Care in the Community Journal doi: 10.1111/hsc.12167.
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The impact of antenatal mental distress on funtioning and capabilities: views of health care providers and service user in Cape Town, South Africa (2014)
S Mall, S Honikman, B Evans, L Swartz, and C Lund, Informa Healthcare Disability and Rehabilitation: Vol. 36, No. 13, 1092-1099, doi:10.3109/09638288.2013.833300.
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Maternal mental health care: refining the components in a South African setting in Global Mental Health (2014) S Field, E Baron, I Meintjes, T van Heyningen, S Honikman, chapter in Essentials of Global Mental Health, Cambridge University Press, 173-186.
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Screening and pathways to maternal mental health care in a South African antenatal setting (2013)
B Vythilingum, S Field, Z Kafaar, E Baron, DJ Stein, S Honikman, Archives of Women’s Mental Health, April, 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s00737-013-0343-1.
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Stepped Care for Maternal Mental Health: A Case Study of the Perinatal Mental Health Project in South Africa (2012)
S Honikman, T van Heyningen, S Field, E Baron, M Tomlinson, PLoS Medicine, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001222.
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Improving child outcomes through maternal mental health interventions (2010)
I Meintjes; S Field, L Sanders, T Van Heyningen, S Honikman, Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, Vol. 22, No. 2, 73 – 82.
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The Perinatal Mental Health Project (2004)
S Honikman, H Rosenthal, S Faure, B Wirz, S van Zijl, M Littlejohn, N Bergman, S Fawcus, Mental Health Promotion: Case Studies from Countries, WHO/WFMH, (Eds. S Saxena & PJ Garrison), 84.
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Secret History Mobile training Application (SHiMA)
We are collaborating with UCT’s Department of Computer Science and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to co-design and test a mobile training application for maternity healthworkers to build their capacity in Respectful Maternity Care and empathic engagement skills. The app will be based on PMHP’s Secret History (link) training method and adapted for a Choose Your Own Adventure framework. Designed on the CommCare platform (used by over 1 million frontline workers), we plan for the final product to be embedded into a range of training programmes nationwide.
Nyamekela 4 Care (N4C)
We have developed and refined this intervention over time to address the needs of teams of service providers for capacity building, empathic skills development, emotional wellbeing and collegial collaboration. This is a manualised approach to running regular team meetings, facilitated by existing staff, with in-built flexibility and options to allow for local adaptation.
In 2021, we were involved in two implementation research projects for N4C
- We continued our partnership with the Children’s Institute at UCT in piloting an adapted version of N4C for Child and Youth Protection workers and social workers linked to the National Association of Child Care Workers. We conducted an analysis of how the pandemic was affecting provider working conditions, capacity building needs and wellbeing. We conducted a set of baseline interviews with participants enrolled in implementing the intervention and launched the intervention with a three-day virtual training programme (see Capacity building).
- In collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch’s Institute for Life Course Health Research (ILCHR), we are evaluating the effect of N4C among mentor mothers working with One to One Africa, an NGO in rural Eastern Cape. (See more on the launch of the intervention under Capacity building) Preliminary unforeseen results are that mentor mothers have developed new skills in training, presentation and logistics management – all of which have increased their employability, motivation and self-esteem.
CHIME-SA Adaption: Community Health Intervention through Musical Engagement
We were invited to collaborate with researchers from Goldsmiths University of London and Imperial College, London, on a Community Health Intervention through Musical Engagement (CHIME).
CHIME was developed as an intervention to use women’s community music groups to help pregnant women and new mothers with their mental wellbeing, and was successfully trialled in The Gambia. We are investigating whether a similar intervention may be adapted into the South African context.
In 2021, we completed the preparatory work for hosting focus group discussions with experts in public health, music and mental health, as well as traditional healers and church singing groups. We also prepared to collaborate with community health workers from One To One Children’s Fund Africa to co-design and prototype a CHIME-SA intervention in rural Eastern Cape. Data collection is underway, and the preliminary study will be completed in 2022.
GEMMH Global Economics in Perinatal Mental Health Project
We are invited to be collaborators for this project which is based at the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). We developed a publication on the intergenerational costs of untreated perinatal depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicidality for South Africa. We also contributed to the health economics work being conducted in other countries involved in this project and to the development of an online health economics calculator tool that assists planners to make investment decisions for perinatal mental health.
This research was developed into a blog published on the prestigious Inspire the Mind website.
Together with Percept consultants, we developed an infographic to help translate the technical aspects of this health economics work for the general public, health managers and decision-makers.
Screening tool development
The PMHP identified a major obstacle to providing mental health care: the relevant mental health screening tool validated for our setting, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), does not address the context-specific needs of our health system. The EPDS has proven too cumbersome for routine use in busy antenatal clinics, and it is not sufficiently sensitive to a context challenged by HIV/AIDS, poverty, high rates of violence and trauma and a severe lack of social support within low-income communities.
The high prevalence of maternal depression in South Africa requires that maternal mental health screening, performed routinely and on-site, be logistically feasible and responsive to the local risk factors which may influence mental distress. To address this gap, we have developed a brief 5-question screening tool to identify symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.
The study was based at our Hanover Park site. Women attending the maternity service were screened, offered counselling if required and referred to social support services where appropriate. Screening included the PMHP’s risk factor assessment, as well as several other risk and mood screens which are being assessed against a diagnostic gold standard. The most robust screening items were identified for inclusion in a valid, responsive and pragmatic new tool which may be used in limited-resource settings.
For more information read the Overview of the study here
For more information read the Policy Brief here
Policy briefs
Screening for Common Perinatal Mental Disorders in South Africa: The need, the research, the tool. Let’s do it. Open | Research Poster | Open
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in South Africa: How to break the vicious cycle.
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Screening for common perinatal mental disorders in low-resource, primary care, antenatal settings in South Africa.
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Integrating maternal mental health into existing health and development programmes.
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Integrating mental health into South Africa’s Primary Healthcare Re-engineering Plan.
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Maternal mental health: addressing key vulnerabilities.
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Integrating mental health into maternal care in South Africa.
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Academic presentations
2021
- Strategies to increase awareness and uptake and access of mental health care for pregnant and postpartum women: the PMHP experience Global Mental Health Conference 2021 hosted by Generation Mental Health. Panel presentation, November 2021
- Screening women for common mental disorders in the perinatal period: developing a tool for South Africa and practical considerations, Marcé Africa Maternal Mental Health Conference, September 2021
- Giving Voice to the Silent Burden: Maternal Mental Health Technical Consultation September 2021
- PMHP’s maternal support service: Lessons and gaps
- Recommendations for the integration of maternal mental health care into primary health care
- Health systems matters for maternal mental health services, 2nd International Conference on Maternal Mental Health in Africa (ICAMMHA), May 2021
- Screening for common perinatal mental disorders in South Africa: pathway to implementation at scale, Maternal Mental Health Across Africa Symposium, African Alliance for Maternal Mental Health; Global Alliance for Maternal Mental Health; Goldsmiths University of London, March 2021
2020
- Integration of mental health care into maternity services: lessons from the Perinatal Mental Health Project and resource constrained settings, FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics), Africa Regional Kigali Congress (virtual event with a hub in Kigali), December 2020
- International Marcé Society International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health Virtual Conference, October 2020
- Adolescent mothers: a qualitative study on barriers and facilitators to mental health in a low-resource setting in Cape Town, South Africa
- Health systems strategies for the integration of mental health care into maternity services: lessons from the Perinatal Mental Health Project and resource constrained settings
- Perinatal Mental Health: what we know in South Africa and other low and middle income countries invited speaker, Mental Health & Psychology Conference August, online 2020
- Health systems strategies for the integration of mental health care into maternity services: lessons from the Perinatal Mental Health Project and resource constrained settings South African Society for Obstetricians and Gynaecologist (SASOG) Congress, Kwazulu Natal, March 2020
- Integrating mental health into maternal health care – lessons from resource-constrained settings and from the Perinatal Mental Health Project invited Plenary speaker at 31st Congress of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan, February 2020
- Health systems strategies for the integration of mental health care into maternity services: lessons from the Perinatal Mental Health Project and resource constrained settings First Thousand Days Colloquium, Western Cape, Dept of Health, Cape Town, February 2020
2019
- Western Cape Department of Health Research Conference
- Invited plenary/roundtable presentation: “Integrating mental health into maternity care: lessons from the Perinatal Mental Health Project”
- Brief presentation: “Factors associated with household food insecurity and depression in pregnant South African women from a low socio-economic setting: a cross-sectional study”
- Brief presentation: “Validation of a brief mental health screening tool for pregnant women in South Africa”
- Strategies for management of common perinatal mental conditions in resource-constrained settings
invited by World Health Organisation as part of its symposium ‘Out of the Shadows: Addressing and Treating Maternal Mental Health’ Women Deliver Conference, Vancouver, Canada - Integrating mental health into maternity care: lessons from the Perinatal Mental Health Project
Roundtable presentation, Western Cape DoH annual research day, Cape Town - Factors associated with household food insecurity and depression in pregnant South African women from a low socio-economic setting: a cross-sectional study
Western Cape DoH annual research day, Cape Town - Validation of a brief mental health screening tool for pregnant women in South Africa
Western Cape DoH annual research day, Cape Town - Validation of a brief mental health screening tool for pregnant women in South Africa
Food Security Symposium, Cape Town - Nyamekela4Care: An integrated training, empathic skills, case sharing and self-care programme for care providers
Child and Trauma conference, Cape Town - Factors associated with household food insecurity and depression in pregnant women living in Hanover Park Poster presentation, Grow Great Seminar “Zero Stunting by 2030 in South Africa”, Johannesburg
2018
- Maternal mental health intervention research in Africa – co-convenor of the symposium
International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Bengalaru, India - Domestic and intimate partner violence among pregnant women in a low resource setting in South Africa: a facility-based, mixed-methods study – oral presentation
International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Bengalaru, India - Development of a brief mental health screening tool for pregnant women in South Africa – oral presentation
International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Bengalaru, India - Validation of a brief mental health screening tool for pregnant women in South Africa – poster presentation
International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Bengalaru, India - Development of a brief screening tool for common perinatal mental disorders – oral presentation
South Africa 35th Conference on Priorities in Perinatal Care in Southern Africa, Drakensberg, South Africa - ‘Secret History’ workshop, a training method for enhancing providers’ empathic care for mothers
Global Mental Health Summit, Johannesburg, South Africa
2017
- Symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnant women from low socio-economic settings improve after counselling
Psychotherapy Symposium, UCT, Stellenbosch University, University of the Western Cape, Western Cape Health, Cape Town, South Africa - An overview of the PMHP maternal mental health service at Mowbray Maternity Hospital and outcomes from the last two years
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa - Economy, Equality & Access to Mental Health Services: Food insecurity and maternal mental health
World Mental Health Day symposium, Baxter Theatre, Cape Town, South Africa
2016
- Maternal wellbeing and psychosocial support – First 1000 Days Plenary address
Child Health Priorities Conference, Cape Town, South Africa - Perinatal suicidal ideation and behaviour: psychiatry and adversity
World Psychiatric Association International Congress, Cape Town, South Africa - Prevalence and predictors of perinatal anxiety disorders amongst low income women in a resource poor setting
World Psychiatric Association International Congress, Cape Town, South Africa - Antenatal common mental disorders, suicidality and associated risk factors: a cross-sectional survey from a socially adverse setting, Cape Town
International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Melbourne, Australia - Nyamekela4Care – An integrated peer-support and training system for health and social care workers
Rural Doctors Association of Southern Africa (RuDASA), Grahamstown, South Africa - Antenatal mental health disorders and associated risk factors: Evidence from a cross-sectional survey at Hanover Park MOU
35th Conference on Priorities in Perinatal Care in Southern Africa, Limpopo, South Africa - Integrating mental health in to maternal health care: promising results towards closing the treatment gap
35th Conference on Priorities in Perinatal Care in Southern Africa, Limpopo, South Africa
2015
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town (UCT), Research Day (local presentation): Predictors of alcohol and other drug use among pregnant women in a low-income urban setting.
- Annual Symposium on Community Mental Health. Elizabeth Donkin Hospital – Port Elizabeth, South Africa – Maternal Mental Health – why and how we should respond.
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health UCT, academic meeting (local presentation). Prevalence of antenatal depression and associated risk factors amongst low-income women living in Hanover Park.
2014
- International Marcé Society Biennial Scientific Meeting – Swansea, Wales – Screening Tool development study
- World Congress of Psychiatry – Madrid, Spain – Symposium “Born this Way: finding solutions to global challenges in Perinatal Mental Health” – Maternal mental health and health service design
2013
- Mental Health Research and Practice Development Conference – Mzuzu, Malawi – keynote address: Maternal mental health service development.
2012
- Toward Carnegie III: Strategies to overcome Poverty and Inequality – University of Cape Town, South Africa – Creating capabilities through maternal mental health: a case study at Hanover Park.
- Marcé Society Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Paris, France. – Integrating mental health care into maternity settings: lessons from a decade’s work in South Africa.
- Perinatal Priorities Conference – Eastern Cape, South Africa – Maternal Mental Healthcare: Refining the components in a South African public health setting.
- Western Cape Mental Health Summit – Cape Town, South Africa – Integrated mental health care: a cross-cutting solution.
2011
- Paediatric AIDS Treatment for Africa Forum (PATA) – Gaborone, Botswana – Adolescent pregnancy, HIV and mental distress
- Panel participant: Second Lancet Summit of the Movement for Global Mental Health – Cape Town, South Africa – Maternal mental health care: a model for integration
- World Congress of the World Federation for Mental Health – Cape Town, South Africa – Symposium 1: Maternal mental health: from the clinical to the political, facilitated by PMHP Director
2010
- Marcé Society Perinatal Mental Health Conference – Pittsburgh, USA – Mood changes in the Perinatal Mental Health Project.
- South African Society of Psychiatrists Conference – South Africa – Maternal Mental Health: addressing key vulnerabilities.
- African Health Facilities Conference – Durban, South Africa – Maternal mental health care: a model for integration.
- National Department of Health Midwifery Summit – Johannesburg, South Africa – Maternal mental health care: a model for integration.
2009
- Expanding our Horizons: Moving mental health and wellness promotion into the mainstream – Toronto, Canada – The ‘secret history’ method: training maternity staff for mental health promotion in Cape Town. Maternal antenatal distress: risk factors and service utilisation in a South African setting.
- South African Society of Psychiatrists Conference – South Africa – Screening for psychological disorders in pregnancy in low-resource settings
- South African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development Ratification Seminar – South Africa – Putting maternal mental health on the agenda.
- South African National AIDS Council working meeting of the NGO techincal task team – South Africa – Care for the caregiver and mental health protocols.
2008
- International Mental Health Conference – Institute of Psychiatry at The Maudsley, London, UK – The Perinatal Mental Health Project: A summative evaluation of a pilot implementation programme.
- Paediatric AIDS Treatment for Africa (PATA) Conference – Kigali, Rwanda – Mental health considerations for mothers and caregivers of HIV positive children.
2006
- UCT Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology – Cape Town, South Africa – Perinatal Mental Health in Context at Postgraduate Refresher Course.
2004
- Priorities in Perinatal Care in South Africa – Limpopo province, South Africa – The Perinatal Mental Health Project: an introduction.
Hosting postgraduate research
Thandi van Heyningen
Research opportunities at the PMHP
Where resources are available, the PMHP is able to host graduate students undertaking Masters, Doctoral or post-doctoral studies engaging in high-quality research of mutual interest in a range of related disciplines.
Examples of previously hosted research
- Motherhood and emotional distress in a South African township: an ethnographic investigation of postnatal depression in sociocultural context. (PhD)
- A qualitative investigation of depressed mothers’ experiences with respect to functioning and participation. (Post-doc)
- Barriers to accessing maternal mental health care. (Honours)
- Formative work towards the development of a group-based intervention for vulnerable mothers. (BAppSocSci)
Interested applicants can contact us with a brief description of research interests or proposal concepts. Selected individuals will be mentored by experienced staff within the Department who will, where possible, assist in facilitating the procurement of funding as well as the necessary logistical procedures for the work to take place.
