Digital health innovations for Perinatal mental health care in Sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for a Scoping Review

This project registers the protocol for a scoping review on digital health innovations for perinatal mental health care in Sub‑Saharan Africa. Perinatal mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, are widespread and pose serious risks to maternal and child health. Yet, mental health services across the region remain chronically underfunded, concentrated in urban centers, and constrained by shortages of trained professionals and persistent stigma, leaving many women and families without adequate support. Digital health technologies, such as mobile applications, telemedicine, and electronic decision‑support systems, present promising avenues to address these barriers, but their specific application to perinatal mental health has not been systematically examined. Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and reported in line with the PRISMA‑ScR checklist, this review will synthesize peer‑reviewed and grey literature published since 2016 to identify technologies employed for perinatal mental health services, populations reached, and contextual factors shaping implementation. Expected outcomes include a comprehensive evidence map, identification of gaps in service delivery, and actionable insights to inform policy, practice, and future research aimed at strengthening perinatal mental healthcare in Sub‑Saharan Africa.