The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has awarded a significant grant of more than £2.8 million to a research partnership between the University of Roehampton and Stellenbosch University. The funding will support a four-year project aimed at investigating how culturally embedded musical practices can improve maternal mental health during the perinatal period.
The project, titled Community Health Interventions through Musical Engagement (CHIME) for Maternal Mental Health, brings together researchers from the UK, South Africa, The Gambia, Lesotho, and Australia. The initiative will explore how group-based, participatory music-making can support the mental well-being of mothers in three African countries. Co-led by Professor Lauren Stewart from the University of Roehampton’s School of Psychology and Professor Sarah Skeen from Stellenbosch University’s Institute for Life Course Health Research, the study seeks to evaluate the role of music in preventing mental health issues during and after pregnancy.
Addressing a Global Health Crisis
Maternal mental health is a growing global concern, with studies showing that up to one in five women experience mental health issues during or after pregnancy. These conditions not only affect a mother’s physical and mental well-being but also increase the risk of complications during childbirth and can have lasting effects on the health and development of the child. Mental health problems during the perinatal period are particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, where women face additional stressors such as poverty, migration, and instability due to emergencies or conflict.
There is a pressing need for accessible, community-based interventions that promote maternal well-being and prevent mental health conditions in these vulnerable groups. CHIME, which was originally developed in The Gambia, aims to fill this gap by using music and social engagement as a means to improve mental health. The intervention involves group-based musical activities led by local women’s groups (known as Kanyeleng) within community settings, focusing on social connection, mood enhancement, and the sharing of health-related messages.
The Promise of Music for Maternal Health
Research has shown that music and singing can have a positive impact on mental health, improving mood, fostering social bonds, and providing an effective means of communication. In the Gambia, where musical traditions are deeply ingrained in cultural practices, music-based interventions hold particular promise. Pregnant women and new mothers have access to a range of musical practices designed specifically to engage and support them during the perinatal period.
The NIHR grant will enable the research team to rigorously test the CHIME intervention in The Gambia, assessing its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. In addition, the project will adapt the intervention for use in South Africa and Lesotho, where participatory music-making is also an integral part of daily life and cultural traditions. By expanding the intervention to these new contexts, the research aims to understand the broader applicability of music-based health interventions in diverse African settings.
Looking Ahead
As maternal mental health continues to be a major global health challenge, the CHIME project represents an innovative approach to addressing this issue in underserved regions. With the backing of the NIHR grant, the research team hopes to build a solid evidence base for the effectiveness of musical interventions and provide valuable insights into how community-driven, culturally relevant approaches can improve perinatal mental health outcomes across different contexts.
