Table 2.

Summary of study characteristics

Author(s), Year, Title, Country	Study aims	Study design	Data collection	Study Participants	Method of analysis	Key Findings
Bruce and Hackett (2021) Developing art therapy practice within perinatal parent-infant mental health UK	Describe the practice of art therapy in PIMH alongside the views of mother’s experience and perceived outcomes	Mixed methods	Semi structured interview and two self-reporting closed question questionnaires	Nine women. Mean age 27 years, (range 17 to 37 years). Low-income households n=5 (55%).	Interview reported in vignette	Art therapy perceived as helpful. Positive changes to self-understanding, comprehension of problems, and mood.
Coates et al. (2017) The experiences of women who have accessed a perinatal and infant mental health service: a qualitative investigation Australia	Investigate the experiences of women who have accessed a perinatal infant mental health service	Informed by the principles of Qualitative grounded theory	Semi structured telephone interviews	Forty women. Demographics not reported.	Thematic analysis	Trusting relationships with clinicians facilitated a safe environment to reflect on trauma, mental health, and parenting.
Greaves et al. (2021) The impact of including babies on the effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy skills groups in a community perinatal service UK	Evaluate the impacts of DBT skills groups for mothers and babies in a community perinatal service	Mixed methods	Semi-structured interviews with outcome measures pre and post intervention	Twenty-seven women. Mean age 34 years, (range 26 to 45 years). Primiparas (55.6%), multiparas (44.4%). Primary diagnosis postnatal depression (n=8, 29.6%).	Thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006)	DBT skills group significantly improved levels of psychological distress and emotional regulation.
Griffiths et al. (2019) A qualitative comparison of experiences of specialist mother and baby units versus general psychiatric wards UK	Compare qualitative experiences of mother and baby units and general psychiatric wards from the perspectives of women and clinicians	Qualitative descriptive approach	Semi structured interviews with participating women and focus groups with clinicians	Fifteen women and seventeen clinicians. Mean age 32 years, (range under 20 to 39 years). Primiparas (60%), multiparas (40%). Primary diagnosis postpartum psychosis n=8 (29.6%).	Thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006)	MBUs provided perinatally focused, family centered care. Difficulties transitioning home after discharge and problems accessing MBU care reported.
Hauck et al. (2013) Pregnancy Experiences of Western Australian Women Attending a Specialist Childbirth and Mental Illness Antenatal Clinic Australia	Explore the experiences of Australian women attending a specialist childbirth and mental illness antenatal clinic including service satisfaction	Qualitative exploratory design	Telephone interviews	Forty-one women. Mean age 29.4 years, (range 19 to 40 years). Primiparas (58.5%), multiparas (41.5%). Primary diagnosis bipolar affective disorder (56.1%).	Thematic analysis	Seeing the same clinician helped women build relationships and feel understood. Women felt safe and trusted by clinicians who were respectful and empathetic.
Higgins et al. (2016) Mothers with mental health problems: Contrasting experiences of support within maternity services in the Republic of Ireland Ireland	Explore the views and experiences of women receiving care from publicly funded maternity services during pregnancy, childbirth, and immediate postnatal period	Qualitative descriptive design	In-depth face-to-face interviews	Twenty women. Mean age 33.05 years, (range 23 to 40 years). Primiparas (50%), multiparas (50%). Married n=16 (80%), co-habiting n=4 (20%).	Inductive thematic analysis	Specialist PMHS provided consistency, continuity, and dependability of care. Clinicians acted as advocates. Receiving specialist advise about medication was important to women.
Lever Taylor et al. (2019) Experiences of how services supporting women with perinatal mental health difficulties work with their families: a qualitative study in England UK	Expand on previous research by exploring the role of partners and wider family in relation to women’s perinatal mental health/ access to services and experiences of family inclusion	Qualitative	Semi-structured interviews	Fifty-two women and thirty-two family members. Mean age 32 years, (range 19 to 43 years). Primiparas (50%), multiparas (50%). Primary Diagnosis depression (37%).	Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke (2006)	Families were excluded and overlooked by services supporting women with PMH difficulties. Women who desired privacy from their families still wanted them involved in some way.
Lever Taylor et al. (2020) A qualitative investigation of models of community mental health care for women with perinatal mental health problems UK	Explore women’s experiences of specialist perinatal versus generic non-perinatal community mental health support	Qualitative	Semi-structured interviews	Thirty-six women. Mean age 33 years, (range under 25 to 40+ years). Primary Diagnosis depression (33%), bipolar affective disorder/psychosis/schizophrenia (33%).	Thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006)	Women valued the specialist expertise offered by perinatal teams. Continuity of clinician was important to women. Inadequate resources and limited family involvement were reported.
Myors et al. (2014a) ‘My special time’: Australian women's experiences of accessing a specialist perinatal and infant mental health service Australia	Report on women’s experiences of accessing the support of specialist PIMH services	Qualitative study, part of a larger mixed-methods study exploring two PIMH services in Australia	Face-to-face or telephone interviews	Eleven women. Mean age 30.2 years, (range 20 to 39 years). Primiparas (9%), multiparas (91%). Previous PIMH client (27.2%).	Thematic analysis guided by Green et al. (2007)	Women reported a positive experience of the service, their relationship with clinician being a key component.
Myors et al. (2014b) Therapeutic Interventions in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services: A mixed methods Inquiry Australia	To explore the characteristics of women referred to specialist PIMH service and the therapeutic interventions used	Mixed methods	Face-to-face or telephone interviews and medical record data	Eleven women. Demographics reported in Myors (2014a).	Content analysis and thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006) and Green et al. (2007)	The relationship built with clinicians was key to women’s experience of interventions.
Myors et al. (2015a) A mixed methods study of collaboration between perinatal and infant mental health clinicians and other service providers: Do they sit in silos? Australia	Report the collaborative practices between PIMH clinicians and other service providers from the perspectives of clinicians, managers, key stakeholders, and women service-users	Mixed methods	Semi structured interviews and medical record data	Eleven women participated in interviews. Demographics reported in Myors (2014a).	Content analysis and thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006) and Green et al. (2007)	Women experienced negative consequences when collaboration between services was not effective.
Myors et al. (2015b) Engaging women at risk for poor perinatal mental health outcomes: A mixed-methods study Australia	Examine characteristics of women who engage in PIMH services and what factors are perceived to enhance or disrupt engagement with specialist PIMH services	Mixed methods	Semi structured interviews and medical record data	Eleven women participated in interviews. Demographics reported in Myors (2014a).	Thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006)	Services that were flexible were positively experienced. Women felt more comfortable being assessed in their own homes. Women reported that they would have preferred a longer service.
Pilav et al. (2022) Experiences of Perinatal Mental Health Care among Minority Ethnic Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic in London: A Qualitative Study UK	Explore minority ethnic women’s experiences of perinatal mental health services during COVID-19 in London	Qualitative design	Semi structured interviews	Eighteen women. Mean age 33.4 years, (range 19 to 46 years). Primiparas (33.3%), multiparas (66.7%). Primary diagnosis depression (33.3%).	Thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006)	Difficulties and disruptions to access during COVID 19 restrictions were felt emotionally by women. Both advantages and disadvantages were reported in relation to remote care.
Powell et al. (2020) Mothers’ experiences of acute perinatal mental health services in England and Wales: a qualitative analysis UK	Explore women’s views and experiences of generic wards, MBUs, and crisis resolution teams	Qualitative design that forms part of a quasi-experimental study	Analysis of the free-text comments from a s service-user designed survey	One hundred and thirty-nine women. Age range 16 to 49 years. Primiparas (55.4%), multiparas (44.6%). Married or cohabiting n=111 (79.9%).	Thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006,2014)	Two themes identified: support networks and staff authority. Mothers reported the benefits of positive non coercive relationships with family and staff for their recovery.
Viveiros and Darling (2018) Barriers and facilitators of accessing perinatal mental health services: The perspectives of women receiving continuity of care midwifery Canada	Explore access to PMH care and identify barriers and facilitators to accessing PMH services	Qualitative descriptive design	Semi-structured interviews and focus groups	Sixteen women. Demographics not reported.	Thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006)	Inadequate capacity resulted in long waiting lists and inequity of access. Services located far from women’s homes were inaccessible. Flexible services facilitated access and were found to be very helpful.
Wright et al. (2018) Patient experience of a psychiatric Mother Baby Unit New Zealand	Explore mothers’ experiences of MBU service providing evidence to inform health policy	Exploratory mixed methods	Semi-structured interviews, anonymous written feedback, and verbal feedback	Forty-five women. Mean age 32.4 years, (range 18 to 42 years). Primiparas (62.2%), multiparas (37.8%). Primary diagnosis depression (34.4%).	Thematic analysis conducted in an experiential, realist framework	Service strengths included co-admission of mother and infant, staff warmth and availability, inclusion of families, and transparent practice.

*Only qualitative data relevant to the review question was extracted from the included studies