A Reference Ontology for Putting Together Pregnancy and Mental Health

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a period characterized by mystique and societal expectations surrounding women. However, it can also be a challenging time for women. The mental well-being of a pregnant woman is influenced, in part, by her obstetric history and the psychosocial context. Detecting stress, anxiety, and depression in pregnant women is crucial for reducing health problems, particularly mental health issues. Results: A project named Digital Pregnancy - Grávida Digital in Portuguese - is currently in development to address these aspects within the context of healthcare. To achieve this goal, a reliable methodology is necessary, and a conceptual model called the Ontology of Pregnancy and Mental Health, known in Portuguese as Ontologia da Gravidez e a Saúde Mental (OntoGSM), has been proposed. OntoGSM aims to provide semantic structuring of data generated throughout the project. It was developed based on the Unified Foundational Ontology (UFO) and followed the Systematic Approach for Building Ontologies (SABiO) as the development process. OntoGSM is the outcome of collaborative efforts from a diverse team of specialists in women's health, mental health, and computer science. Conclusions: The OntoGSM´s objective is to create a tool that accommodates a broad spectrum of stakeholders, enabling a comprehensive understanding and support for women throughout their pregnancy journey within the healthcare domain. Once this integrated domain is accurately represented, the subsequent step involves constructing a tool that utilizes this representation.