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Cited by 0Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumMaternal and Neonatal HealthcareCultural Competency in Health Care

Uncovering what hurts and what helps: a patient work systems analysis of contextual factors impacting access to perinatal mental health care in Toronto, Canada

Senior, Myesha A., Alfred, Myrtede, Akintunde, Tosin, Montague, Enid·2026·Ergonomics
DOI 10.1080/00140139.2026.2740202
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Abstract

Perinatal mental health (PMH) challenges impact numerous mothers in Canada, with disproportionate effects observed within racialised populations. Despite increasing awareness, disparities in access to care continue to persist. This study explores the lived experiences of racialised mothers accessing PMH care in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with a focus on contextual factors across the patient work system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen racialised mothers within one-year postpartum. Data analysis employed an inductive thematic approach with emergent themes and contextual factors mapped across the patient work system. Findings underscored an interaction between micro- and macro-level, wherein varying levels of trust, comfort, and self-reliance corresponded with care that was fragmented, delayed, or absent. At the meso-level, emotionally engaged providers, multimodal services, and robust community-based support emerged as areas of resilience. Grounded in the patient work of racialised mothers, preliminary design recommendations are proposed for the design of proactive PMH care systems.

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Crossref · 10.1080/00140139.2026.2740202

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. 10.1111/phn.12205 · DOI
  2. Creswell, J. W., and J. D. Creswell. 2017. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Newbury Park: SAGE Publications.
  3. Matheson, F. I., T. van Ingen, and G. Moloney. 2023. “The Ontario Marginalization Index (on-Marg)—2021.” Public Health Ontario and St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, User Guide [Online]. https://www.ontariohealthprofiles.ca/onmargON.php#onmPHO.

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Authors
Senior, M. A., Alfred, M., Akintunde, T., & Montague, E.
Affiliations
University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
Senior, Myesha A.
ORCID
Venue
Ergonomics
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2026-10-03
Pages
1-16
ISSN
  • 0014-0139 (ISSN-L)
  • 1366-5847
DOI
10.1080/00140139.2026.2740202
OpenAlex
W7219633091
Semantic Scholar
f59fbffcd6c10699695e8578a6f753250cdc9474
Cited by
0
References
59
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
doi.org/10.1080/policies-text-data-mining (tdm)
Locations
  • Ergonomics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Major Research Challenge for Black Researchers Connaught Grant in collaboration with the Black Research Network at the University of Toronto (MRCBR-202)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Cultural Competency in Health Care
Keywords
perinatal mental health, access to mental health care, lived experience, care fragmentation, delayed care, trust in providers, community-based support, postpartum care, health care disparities, Greater Toronto Area

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