Identification and transfer to stepped care of depressed and psychosocially stressed parents during peri- and postpartum-UPlusE: study protocol for cluster randomized trial of a screening intervention.

Background: Perinatal depression affects 10-15% of mothers and approximately 5% of fathers. However, only a small number of affected individuals seek treatment. If left unrecognized and untreated, it can have negative long-term consequences for the family's health, leading to subsequent high costs.