Effectiveness and implementation of task-sharing cognitive-behavioral interventions for perinatal mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBIs) delivered by nonspecialist providers (NSPs) on perinatal depressive (PND) and anxiety symptoms, and to narratively synthesize their implementation processes and reported implementation outcomes, including acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, cost, and sustainability. METHODS: We systematically searched eight databases from inception to April 8, 2025. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing CBIs delivered by NSPs for PND and/or anxiety. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted, and assessed trials. Meta-analyses employed random-effects models, with subgroup, sensitivity, meta-regression, and publication bias analyses conducted in Stata 18.0. Implementation processes and outcomes were reported as frequencies or percentages across trials. RESULTS: A total of 47 trials (11, 357 participants) were included in the systematic review, of which 37 trials (8,709 participants) were included for meta-analyses. CBIs were conducted in 12 countries. Nurses and midwives delivered 45% of CBIs. CBIs were associated with reduced PND post-intervention compared with control conditions (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.49, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.35; I² = 86.8%). Limited evidence from four trials suggested a small sustained effect at 12 months (SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.27 to -0.02; I² = 26.4%). Reductions in anxiety symptoms were observed immediately post-intervention (SMD, -0.45, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.25; I²=81%), but evidence for longer-term effects was limited. Subgroup analyses confirmed consistent effects across diverse settings, populations, and intervention characteristics. Reporting of implementation processes (e.g., training, supervision, fidelity) was limited, with only 23.4% of trials assessing fidelity and 10.6% evaluating costs. CONCLUSIONS: NSP-delivered CBIs showed beneficial effects on PND and anxiety, with generally encouraging evidence for acceptability and feasibility. However, evidence for sustained effects beyond the immediate post-intervention period remains limited. Future studies should strengthen long-term follow-up and improve reporting of implementation processes and outcomes, particularly in rural and adolescent perinatal populations, to inform scalable and equitable task-sharing models.