Developing a perinatal mental health peer support intervention to address the needs of women with experience of intimate partner violence (IPV): a qualitative study

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during the perinatal period is a global public health concern, significantly increasing the risk of perinatal mental health issues. Reported prevalence is 16% for physical abuse and 73% for psychological abuse, with higher rates of mental health problems among survivors. Both mental health problems and IPV are associated with adverse outcomes for women and babies, such as low birthweight, prematurity and postnatal depression, reducing overall quality of life, therefore, making it crucial to help them access effective methods of support. Although peer support has been identified as an effective intervention to prevent/treat perinatal depression, there is insufficient high-quality evidence to recommend specific interventions for women who have experienced perinatal IPV. Consequently, women s needs often go unmet. Perinatal mental health peer support programme for IPV is proposed as a cost-effective way to support women s mental health, potentially improving outreach to those with limited treatment engagement. Aims and objectives The research team worked with service users, clinicians, and other stakeholders to develop this study to systematically co-design a theory-based, perinatal mental health peer support programme for women experiencing perinatal IPV. The study objectives are to: i) Explore the experience and impact of IPV on mental health, including facilitators and barriers to care, from the perspectives of women in the perinatal period. ii) Explore the experience of caring for perinatal women experiencing IPV with mental health concerns from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and specialist services. iii) Convene a co-design planning group comprising service users, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders. iv) Work collaboratively to systematically co-design a perinatal mental health peer support programme and associated resources to be tested in a subsequent feasibility study. Methods This 18-month study comprises the first four steps of intervention mapping. It will be supported by two co-design groups including 10 service users, healthcare professionals, domestic violence specialists, lived experience advisory group, and commissioners. Step1: includes research interviews with 15 service users, 15 multidisciplinary healthcare professionals, and 15 multidisciplinary domestic violence specialists to explore the experience and impact of IPV and its management. Data will be transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically to inform a logic model for the overall programme goals. Step2: co-design groups will discuss the programme objectives and key outcomes, considering factors that may influence these, and create a logic model of change. Step3: the multidisciplinary research team will generate the programme prototype including key components, sequence and the underpinning theoretical and evidence-based mechanisms of change. Step4: the co-design group will review the prototype and finalise the perinatal mental health peer support for IPV programme. Anticipated impact and dissemination This research will develop a bespoke perinatal mental health peer support for IPV programme that could improve the mental health and well-being of women and potentially reduce healthcare costs. Findings will be shared among service users, clinicians and academics at events, published in peer-reviewed journals and service users newsletters. A research proposal for a feasibility pilot study evaluating optimal content and delivery of the intervention, programme acceptability, adherence, and feasibility will be developed.