Smartphone Application to Support Mothers at Risk of Postpartum Depression

Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application for Mothers at High Risk for Postpartum Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial Abstract Aim: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a smartphone application in reducing symptoms of postpartum depression among Jordanian women. Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health condition affecting an estimated 14-27% of mothers and negatively impacting infant health. Social support and certain psychological therapies have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in postpartum women. Smartphone applications may provide a viable means of delivering psychological interventions to mothers experiencing such symptoms. Method: A randomized controlled trial will be conducted at two maternal and child health clinics in Irbid, Jordan. A total of 295 women will be invited to participate and will be asked to provide sociodemographic data and complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 6-8 weeks (baseline) and again at 3 months postpartum. Women with a depressive symptom score of ≥13 (n ≈ 79) will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n ≈ 58) or the control group (n ≈ 57). The intervention will involve an Android smartphone application called Serene Motherhood, which will enable mothers to access evidence-based cognitive techniques and health information at any time.