Perinatal mental health remains a significant but often overlooked challenge in Ethiopia. Evidence indicates that nearly one in four pregnant and postpartum women experience depression, yet mental health services remain insufficiently integrated into routine maternal healthcare.
Building on these gaps, the #ENAT initiative is advancing digital solutions to improve maternal mental health screening by integrating validated screening tools into existing Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems and improving women's knowledge and awareness through a context-adapted mobile application.
An important milestone was recently achieved through the demonstration and multidisciplinary expert review of these two interconnected digital innovations.
First, validated perinatal mental health screening tools were embedded into an existing EMR system developed by the CDHI-Center for Digital Health and Implementation Sciences. This integration builds on the
World Health Organization's Digital Adaptation Kit (DAK), which is software-neutral architecture enables the screening functionality to be replicated and integrated across different EMR platforms and software vendors, supporting wider adoption and scalability.
Second, the #ENAT mobile application was demonstrated as a maternal health education tool. It enables women to learn about perinatal mental health conditions, recognize potential warning signs, and understand when and where to seek professional care. The application promotes awareness and appropriate care-seeking rather than providing clinical diagnoses.
The multidisciplinary expert review brought together stakeholders from the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Federal Ministry of Health Ethiopia, Addis Ababa City Administration Health Bureau, and psychiatric associations, alongside medical doctors, digital health experts, researchers, programme leaders, and communication and advocacy professionals. Their valuable feedback and recommendations will inform further refinement of the innovations.
Through implementation research, digital innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, #ENAT aims to strengthen early identification, improve women's awareness, and integrate mental health into routine maternal healthcare in Ethiopia.