Maternal Bridge Case Study
Maternal Bridge is a web-based application brought by the city of Hamilton to provide support to new mothers with diseases like postpartum depression and perinatal mental health (PMH). In this case study I will walk you through the details of the design process.
Industry
#Healthcare
Role
Product Designer
Duration
4 months
Design Team
Behrad Bayati - Soofia Rashed Adhvait Menon - Daanish Khader
Tools
The Problem
The City of Hamilton offers a wide range of free services for pregnant women and families, addressing both physical and mental health needs. Despite the availability of these services, a significant number of individuals remain unaware of them, making it challenging for both clinicians and patients to find and access the appropriate support. Additionally, issues such as prenatal mental health and postpartum depression are often overlooked by mothers, particularly those in vulnerable financial situations.
There are two primary issues at the heart of this project:
1. Lack of Awareness and Accessibility: Many residents, especially those in financially unstable conditions or experiencing homelessness, are unaware of the services available to them. This lack of awareness extends to both patients and clinicians, hindering the effective delivery and utilization of essential health services.
2. Cultural Stigmas and Communication Barriers: Hamilton's diverse population includes individuals from various cultural backgrounds, each with unique stigmas and communication needs. These cultural factors can complicate the treatment process and prevent effective communication between patients and healthcare providers.
Objectives
Increase Awareness
Develop a solution that raises awareness about the available perinatal mental health services among pregnant women and families in Hamilton.
Enhance Accessibility
Create a user-friendly platform that facilitates easy access to these services, ensuring that patients can connect with the right clinicians and support based on their specific needs and cultural backgrounds.
Address Cultural Stigmas
Ensure the solution accommodates cultural sensitivities and promotes open communication, thereby improving the overall mental health and well-being of the users.
Design Process
We applied a 5-step design thinking approach to tackle the problem. In the Empathy phase, we conducted interviews and researched perinatal mental health to understand user needs and cultural stigmas. During the Define phase, we created a clear point of view and formulated guiding "How Might We" statements. In the Ideate phase, our team brainstormed solutions, developed wireframes, and iterated based on stakeholder feedback. Using Figma, we built a mobile app prototype in the Prototype phase, connecting users to relevant services based on location and culture. Finally, in the Test phase, we received feedback from stakeholders and potential users, refining the prototype to enhance the user experience.
Figure 1 - Design Thinking Stages - ixdf.org
🫂 1. Empathy
We began by understanding the diverse experiences of our users through interviews and research:
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Conducted interviews with over 12 individuals, including mothers, families, and healthcare staff.
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Identified key issues such as cultural stigmas, language barriers, and the need for personalized support.
💭 2. Define
From our research, we developed a clear point of view and formulated guiding "How Might We" (HMW) statements:
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HMW: How might we create a secure and personalized pathway to connect pregnant individuals with culturally and geographically appropriate support?
💡 3. Ideate
Our team brainstormed over 10 possible solutions, ultimately focusing on a mobile application:
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Created wireframes and received feedback from stakeholders.
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Iterated on ideas to refine our solution.
🦾 4. Prototype
Using Figma, we developed a high-fidelity prototype of the Maternal Bridge app:
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Features include user sign-up, service recommendations based on location and cultural background, and a map view of nearby services.
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Users can see reviews and details of services to make informed choices.
✅ 5. Test
We tested our prototype with stakeholders, including representatives from the City of Hamilton, professors, and potential users:
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Received positive feedback and valuable insights.
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Iterated on the prototype to enhance user experience and address feedback.
User Persona
User Interviews
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User 1 (Parents of a 5-year-old son): Highlighted the importance of support systems and cultural impact on parenting.
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User 2 (6-month pregnant user): Emphasized the need for professional help and balancing self-care with motherhood responsibilities.
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User 3 (Mother of a 3-year-old daughter): Noted the emotional struggles and importance of professional mental health support.
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User 4 (Mother of a 2-year-old twin): Discussed the challenges of immigration, cultural differences, and the need for familial support.
Expert Interviews
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Charge Nurse: Pointed out the lack of awareness about available services and the challenges working mothers face.
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Social Activist: Stressed the need for emotional validation and culturally sensitive support.
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Father’s Mental Health Associate: Addressed the often overlooked mental health needs of expectant fathers.
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Therapist: Provided feedback on simplifying the user experience and the importance of tailored information.
Key Insights
Work-Life Balance Struggles
The stress of full-time work, along with the difficulty of finding suitable part-time positions, adds to the pressures faced by working mothers.
Lack of Support Service Awareness
Despite the availability of various support services, like Wellness programs, there's a notable lack of awareness and utilization among employees.
Cultural and Financial Barriers to Accessing Perinatal Mental Health Services
Significant barriers to accessing PMH services, including cultural stigmas, financial constraints, and a lack of diversity among service providers.
Final Design
Interactive Prototype Video
Conclusion
Benefits to all Maternal Bridge Stakeholders
Maternal Bridge successfully bridges the gap between available perinatal mental health services and the individuals who need them. By offering a culturally sensitive, user-friendly platform, we aim to improve the mental health outcomes for pregnant women and new mothers in Ontario, Canada.
Next Steps
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Conduct usability testing to further refine the prototype.
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Begin development to bring the application to life.
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Promote and market the app through healthcare centers and social media to increase awareness and adoption.
Thank you for your interest in Maternal Bridge! For more information or collaboration, please contact me at thisisbayati@gmail.com