Telephone-based peer support intervention programme for prevention of postnatal depression

INTERVENTION: Randomisation: After confirming the eligibility criteria and obtaining the consent of participation, all mothers will be randomized into 2 different groups. The mothers who give consent to participate will be asked to pick a number from 1‐118 from an opaque envelope. The Research Randomizer will be used to randomly generate 59 sets of numbers. Participants whose picked number matches with any of the 59 sets of numbers will be assigned into the intervention group (PIP intervention), and the rest to the control group. Treatment: Mothers allocated to the peer support group will have access to all of the standard hospital postpartum services in addition to receiving telephone‐based support from a peer volunteer. Telephone contact will be initiated within one week post childbirth and then as frequently as the dyad deems necessary. Peer support volunteers would be asked to make a minimum of four contacts. Control group: Participants receive standard care, which involves postnatal support by the doctors, nurses and lactation consultants from the hospital and follow‐up appointment with the obstetrician at one to four weeks post childbirth. Follow up: After the collection of baseline data, the research assistant will telephone study participants at 4 and 12 weeks postpartum to determine trial outcomes. Evaluation: After the peer support intervention a purposive sample of 20 mothers (10 each from intervention and control groups) and 20 peer support volunteers will be selected to participate in the interview to obtain their opinions and comments on the receipt and delivery of peer support intervention program (PIP) respectively. CONDITION: Postnatal depression ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders ; Mild mental and behavioural disorders associated with the puerperium, not elsewhere classified PRIMARY OUTCOME: Postnatal depression is measured using Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire at recruitment (baseline), 4 weeks and 12 weeks postpartum SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Anxiety is measured using State Trait Anxiety Inventory at recruitment (baseline), 4 weeks and 12 weeks postpartum; 2. Loneliness is measured using UCLA Loneliness Scale at recruitment (baseline), 4 weeks and 12 weeks postpartum; 3. Social support is measured using Perceived Social Support for Parenting (PSSP) at recruitment (baseline), 4 weeks and 12 weeks postpartum INCLUSION CRITERIA: The inclusion criteria for participants are mothers who: 1. Are 21 years old and above 2. Are able to read and speak English 3. Owns a telephone and willing to share her number 4. Plan to stay in Singapore for first three months post birth of their newborns The inclusion criteria for the peer volunteers are mothers who: 1. Are 21 years old and above 2. Are able to read and speak English 3. Have delivered a healthy baby in the past 4. Self‐reported history of and recovery from PND 5. Have phone and willing to share her number and call needy mothers as instructed by the research team 6. Plan to stay in Singapore for next 6 months from the time of recruitment to participate in mother to mother peer support intervention programme (PIP)