M.2. Scientific session: Mind matters in maternity care: cross-country evidence on perinatal mental health (IMAgiNE Study)
Abstract
Since March 2020, the IMAgiNE Research Network has been gathering data on the quality of maternal and neonatal care (QMNC) around childbirth, investigating the perspectives of both women and healthcare professionals through two validated online questionnaires translated into 33 languages and distributed across 38 countries globally. This workshop will present unpublished cross-country evidence on perinatal mental health (PMH) derived from the WHO standards-based frameworks, offering a unique opportunity to compare relevant maternal health indicators across countries and between vulnerable groups. The session follows a logical progression from global trends to specific inequities and country-level implementation. The first presentation will focus on a multicountry analysis, examining the prevalence of self-reported depressive and anxious symptoms, the extent of PMH screening and support, and the association between women’s mental health and their childbirth experiences in 13 countries. The second presentation will address health inequities in maternal mental health by providing comparative data across multiple countries, specifically comparing mental health screening, psychological distress, support adequacy when needed and childbirth experience between migrant and non-migrant populations. To provide deeper context, two country-specific case studies will follow: Belgium will examine the association between QMNC and PMH, while Italy will describe overlaps between key components of PMH care (symptoms, screening, and support).
Format: The session will be structured as a scientific session with four presentations (10 minutes each), followed by an interactive panel discussion (20 minutes) involving presenters as panellists and additional experts, with active audience engagement through moderated discussion and Q&A. Presentations and panellists: • Presentation 1 (10 minutes): Presentation of new unpublished data: “Inequities in perinatal mental health: findings from IMAgiNE Research Network across 13 countries”. Presenter: Marzia Lazzerini • Presentation 2 (10 minutes): Presentation of the new unpublished data: “Perinatal mental health care: a multicountry comparison of migrant and non-migrant populations” Presenter: Ilaria Mariani • Presentation 3 (10 minutes): Presentation of the new unpublished data: “Quality of maternal and newborn care and mental health: findings from the IMAgiNE study in Belgium”. Presenter: Anna Galle • Presentation 4 (10 minutes): Presentation of the new unpublished data: “Perceived quality of perinatal mental health care in Italy: a cross-sectional study (IMAgiNE)” Presenter: Maria Verdecchia • Panel discussion and facilitation (20 minutes): Marzia Lazzerini, Ilaria Mariani, Maria Verdecchia, Anna Galle, Eleni Hadjigeorgiou, Alina Liepinaitienė
Key messages: • Perinatal mental health symptoms are common across countries, yet screening and support remain inconsistent within maternal care systems.
• Integrating mental health into quality maternal care is essential, particularly to address inequalities affecting vulnerable groups such as migrant women.
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BibTeX
@article{italy2026scientific,
title = {{M.2. Scientific session: Mind matters in maternity care: cross-country evidence on perinatal mental health (IMAgiNE Study)}},
author = {Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo (Italy) and Maria Verdecchia and Marzia Lazzerini},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.104},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.104},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - M.2. Scientific session: Mind matters in maternity care: cross-country evidence on perinatal mental health (IMAgiNE Study)
AU - Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo (Italy)
AU - Maria Verdecchia
AU - Marzia Lazzerini
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.104
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.104
AB - Since March 2020, the IMAgiNE Research Network has been gathering data on the quality of maternal and neonatal care (QMNC) around childbirth, investigating the perspectives of both women and healthcare professionals through two validated online questionnaires translated into 33 languages and distributed across 38 countries globally. This workshop will present unpublished cross-country evidence on perinatal mental health (PMH) derived from the WHO standards-based frameworks, offering a unique opportunity to compare relevant maternal health indicators across countries and between vulnerable groups. The session follows a logical progression from global trends to specific inequities and country-level implementation. The first presentation will focus on a multicountry analysis, examining the prevalence of self-reported depressive and anxious symptoms, the extent of PMH screening and support, and the association between women’s mental health and their childbirth experiences in 13 countries. The second presentation will address health inequities in maternal mental health by providing comparative data across multiple countries, specifically comparing mental health screening, psychological distress, support adequacy when needed and childbirth experience between migrant and non-migrant populations. To provide deeper context, two country-specific case studies will follow: Belgium will examine the association between QMNC and PMH, while Italy will describe overlaps between key components of PMH care (symptoms, screening, and support). Format: The session will be structured as a scientific session with four presentations (10 minutes each), followed by an interactive panel discussion (20 minutes) involving presenters as panellists and additional experts, with active audience engagement through moderated discussion and Q&A. Presentations and panellists: • Presentation 1 (10 minutes): Presentation of new unpublished data: “Inequities in perinatal mental health: findings from IMAgiNE Research Network across 13 countries”. Presenter: Marzia Lazzerini • Presentation 2 (10 minutes): Presentation of the new unpublished data: “Perinatal mental health care: a multicountry comparison of migrant and non-migrant populations” Presenter: Ilaria Mariani • Presentation 3 (10 minutes): Presentation of the new unpublished data: “Quality of maternal and newborn care and mental health: findings from the IMAgiNE study in Belgium”. Presenter: Anna Galle • Presentation 4 (10 minutes): Presentation of the new unpublished data: “Perceived quality of perinatal mental health care in Italy: a cross-sectional study (IMAgiNE)” Presenter: Maria Verdecchia • Panel discussion and facilitation (20 minutes): Marzia Lazzerini, Ilaria Mariani, Maria Verdecchia, Anna Galle, Eleni Hadjigeorgiou, Alina Liepinaitienė Key messages: • Perinatal mental health symptoms are common across countries, yet screening and support remain inconsistent within maternal care systems. • Integrating mental health into quality maternal care is essential, particularly to address inequalities affecting vulnerable groups such as migrant women.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -