The Effect of Health Education in Controlling Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Perinatal depression occurs in 10-15% of women. One of the causes is a lack of knowledge about the process of pregnancy until the postpartum period which results in birth complications and disrupts the baby’s growth and development. Objective: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of health education on perinatal depression. Methods: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. A literature search was conducted through four electronic databases: ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, and SAGE with inclusion criteria: maternal respondents with perinatal depression, original articles, controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-experimental methodology, published 2017 to 2023, in English, full text and intervention in the form of education. Results: The initial search was 2216 articles and after removing duplicate articles there were 62 articles, and 10 articles met the inclusion criteria and entered the analysis stage. The educational material is almost identical, including preparation for childbirth, care for pregnant women, postpartum mothers, baby care, and maternal mental health. Education methods mostly use digital or online media, such as booklets, videos, and text messages. Based on the results of research, health education is effective in controlling perinatal depression. Conclusion: Health education can be used as an intervention to prevent perinatal depression, and implementation in the clinic needs to be integrated with support interventions.