Abstract:
"In the context of public health, Perinatal Depression represents an aspect of significant importance which potentially could be considered detrimental in the absence of timely and appropriate interventions.
Empirical research has consistently presented evidence to support the assertion that developing countries exhibit much higher prevalence rates of perinatal depression in comparison to developed countries. Proving the aforementioned fact, 10% of Sri Lankan females exhibit perinatal depressive symptomatology as a result of some significant bottlenecks that hinder the advancement of the Sri Lankan maternal mental wellness sector. This study aims to identify the pressing concerns that contribute for the prevalence of perinatal depression in Sri Lanka and design, develop, test and evaluate a mobile healthcare solution that demonstrates the ability to address the identified bottlenecks.
This research adheres to a methodology where the general opinions, experiences and preferences of mothers going through antepartum and postpartum phases of maternity are gathered and analyzed with the purpose of identifying the most feasible and convenient solution to address the requirements. Simultaneous insight into the prevailing system through domain experts was a major incentive behind pin pointing the areas that required addressing.
As a result of the efficaciously completed research, a mobile healthcare solution facilitating the self-assessment and management of perinatal depression has been devised targeting the wellbeing of the Sri Lankan females at the risk of perinatal depressive symptomatology thereby, contributing to the overall development of the maternal mental healthcare sector. As the name implies, “Tranquil” has been designed to uplift the spiritual aspect of mothers by assisting them to self-evaluate any vulnerability for perinatal depression at the earliest possible, thereby mitigating any chronic consequences that could potentially affect not just the mother but also the infant and the family as a unit.
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