Mental Health Support Interventions for Mothers of Infants and Young Children

Integrating Maternal Mental Health Support Into Child Healthcare System in China: A Randomized Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a maternal mental health support program can improve maternal mental health and child development when delivered through routine child healthcare services in community health centers in China. The study will also examine how the program works and whether it can be successfully integrated into the child healthcare system.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does the maternal mental health support program improve maternal mental health and well-being?
• Does the program improve child development outcomes?
• Through what pathways does the program influence maternal mental health and child development?
• Can the program be successfully integrated and delivered within the child healthcare system?

Researchers will compare the maternal mental health support program with usual child healthcare services.

Participants will:

• Receive either the maternal mental health support program or usual child healthcare services
• Attend program sessions delivered in community health centers
• Complete questionnaires and assessments related to maternal well-being, parenting, and child development
• Participate in follow-up assessments during the study period

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mothers aged 18 years or older with an infant aged 0 to 12 months
• Living in or near the study area and planning to remain in the area for the next 12 months
• Screen positive for mild to moderate depressive symptoms based on the study screening assessment
• Able and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mothers or infants with serious medical conditions that would prevent participation in the study
• Mothers or infants with severe congenital disorders, infectious diseases, genetic or metabolic disorders, or severe disabilities