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Decolonizing the exploration of perinatal mental health screening with Indigenous Australian parents in primary care
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Decolonizing the exploration of perinatal mental health screening with Indigenous Australian parents in primary care

Jayne Kotz, Corinne Reid, Melanie Robinson, Roz Walker, Tracy Reibel, Alison Bairnsfather-Scott and Rhonda Marriott
Primary health care research & development, Vol.26, e66
2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1463423624000665
Appears in  Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements
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Published (Version of Record)CC BY V4.0,  Open Access

Abstract

Australian Aboriginal codesign decolonising research Indigenous participatory action research perinatal mental health
Background: Effective mental health primary prevention and early detection strategies targeting perinatal mental healthcare settings are vital. Poor maternal mental health places the developing foetus at risk of lasting cognitive, developmental, behavioural, physical, and mental health problems. Indigenous women endure unacceptably poor mental health compared to all other Australians and disproportionately poorer maternal and infant health outcomes. Mounting evidence demonstrates that screening practices with Indigenous women are neither effective nor acceptable. Improved understanding of their perinatal experiences is necessary for optimizing successful screening and early intervention. Achieving this depends on adopting culturally safe research methodologies. Methodology: Decolonizing translational research methodologies are described. Perspectives of Australian Indigenous peoples were centred on leadership in decision-making throughout the study. This included designing the research structure, actively participating throughout implementation, and devising solutions. Methods included community participatory action research, codesign, and yarning with data analysis applied through the cultural lenses of Indigenous investigators to inform culturally meaningful outcomes. Discussion: The Indigenous community leadership and control, maintained throughout this research, have been critical. Allowing time for extensive community collaboration, fostering mutual trust, establishing strong engagement with all stakeholders and genuine power sharing has been integral to successfully translating research outcomes into practice. The codesign process ensured that innovative strengths-based solutions addressed the identified screening barriers. This process resulted in culturally sound web-based perinatal mental health and well-being assessment with embedded potential for widespread cultural adaptability.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#10 Reduced Inequalities

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2 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
6 Social Sciences
6.11 Education & Educational Research
6.11.2787 Qualitative Inquiry
Web Of Science research areas
Primary Health Care
ESI research areas
Clinical Medicine
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