The application of chatbots in perinatal mental health interventions: a scoping review protocol
Zhixiang Huang, Guiyuan Ma, Qiming Ding, Dianyi Dai, Ying Ye, Ya Shi, Can GuIntroduction
Perinatal mental health problems are prevalent during pregnancy and the postpartum period and can have substantial consequences for both mothers and infants. Chatbot-based interventions represent a promising and scalable approach to perinatal mental health support. However, the evidence base remains heterogeneous and has not been systematically mapped. This scoping review aims to synthesise existing research on chatbot-based interventions for perinatal mental health, focusing on study characteristics, intervention features, outcomes and implementation challenges.
Methods and analysis
This scoping review protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Protocols guidelines. A systematic search will be conducted from database inception to May 2026 to identify quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies focusing on chatbot-based interventions for perinatal mental health. Two reviewers will independently screen studies and extract data, with discrepancies resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. Data will be synthesised descriptively.
Ethics and dissemination
This study is based on publicly available literature and does not require ethical approval. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications and presented at academic conferences related to perinatal and child health and digital health.