“Lost in translation?“: A qualitative exploration of digital perinatal mental health resource use among migrant women

Digital platforms such as websites play an increasingly important role in supporting perinatal mental health, yet their reach, cultural responsiveness, and effectiveness among women of migrant backgrounds remain under-explored. This study aimed to understand how women from diverse migrant communities engage with five digital perinatal mental health resources and to identify factors influencing their access, engagement, and overall experiences. We conducted qualitative analysis of user interactions with five digital perinatal mental health platforms. Data were drawn from focus groups and individual interviews with women from Chinese, Arabic and Indian-language speaking backgrounds. Thematic analysis was guided by iterative coding to derive key themes and sub-themes reflecting barriers, facilitators, and user engagement patterns among migrant mothers. Four overarching themes were identified. Participants highly valued access to content in their first language but frequently encountered confusing translations, hidden language options, and complex navigation, which discouraged sustained engagement even when content was relevant. Visual and audio formats such as videos and podcasts were preferred over text-heavy content, particularly when paired with culturally representative imagery and accessible language options, while tokenistic visuals and overly clinical website designs were viewed as less appealing. Digital resources were often introduced late in the perinatal journey, typically postpartum, when many women already felt overwhelmed. Participants recommended earlier and more frequent integration of these tools during antenatal care, facilitated through trusted professionals encountered throughout the perinatal period, such as general practitioners, midwives, and maternal and child health nurses. While digital tools provided privacy, convenience, and a sense of emotional safety, particularly when accessed via mobile phones, persistent inequities in digital literacy, internet access, and device availability continued to limit equitable use. While digital perinatal mental health resources offer valuable support, their uptake by women from migrant communities is limited by systemic failures to account for language diversity, cultural relevance, and poor integration into routine care pathways. Enhancing accessibility requires multilingual and culturally responsive design, early promotion through trusted providers, and strategies to mitigate digital disparities. Co-designed, inclusive digital resources may strengthen engagement and support perinatal mental health equity for migrant communities.