DESCRIPTION OF TOPIC:
Group antenatal care (ANC) is an innovative and midwifery-led ANC model where trained facilitators provide care for 8-12 pregnant people with similar due dates in 2-hour sessions that include 80-90 minutes of interactive learning. Evidence from high-income countries shows positive impacts on mental health, but this relationship is underexplored in low- and middle-income countries. This presentation fills this gap by using data from a trial in Malawi examining the longitudinal impact of group ANC on depression symptoms from mid-pregnancy through 6 months postpartum. Mental well-being, including identifying severe mood changes, defining postpartum depression, and seeking help, was discussed in the second and seventh sessions. The percentage of those who screened positively for depression symptoms steadily decreased over time for both those in group and individual ANC; however, this proportion decreased more quickly for those in group ANC. A longitudinal analysis using generalized estimating equations models revealed this difference to be statistically significant. The largest difference between the groups was at 6 months postpartum, where the odds of screening positively for depression were 32% lower for those in group ANC (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.99, p=0.0481). Introducing mental health content into health promotion at group ANC has a positive impact on depression symptoms over time, indicating the successful integration of this content into care.

RELEVANCE TO MIDWIFERY:
Midwives are on the front lines of encountering perinatal depression, but have little training. This research shows that with limited training, midwives can integrate mental health into perinatal care with impact. Perinatal care is often a time when pregnant people have the most contact with the health system, making it an ideal setting for mental health interventions. We should leverage this opportunity and continue advocating for the use of group care, given its impact on mental health and effectiveness in low-resource settings. Midwife-led center 2 (including a three-minute presentation competition)