UWPRC Core Research Project
Core Research Project Featured in "Innovation in Perinatal and Child Health in Medicaid"
The Institute for Medicaid Innovation has released a new report, Innovation in Perinatal and Child Health in Medicaid, featuring the UWPRC Core Research Project (CRP) led by Drs. Roseanne Clark and Jane Mahoney. The report informs renewed urgency to address birth equity and prioritize pregnant and postpartum people, children, and families within Medicaid.
Background
Postpartum Depression is experienced by approximately 20% of new mothers and as many as 50% of mothers living in poverty, constituting a significant public health concern (Musik & Borovska, 2010). In addition to impacting maternal mental health and well-being, studies have also documented the contribution of postpartum depression to risk for developmental delays and subsequent emotional and behavioral disturbances in young children. Despite screening and referrals by Ob-Gyn, primary care providers, public health nurses and home visitors, a majority of women impacted by racial, economic and health disparities encounter significant barriers to mental health evaluation and care. The number of women who receive treatment for depression is extremely low. Early intervention can shorten the course and severity of depression and co- occurring anxiety, trauma and stress thereby reducing suffering, increasing sensitivity and responsiveness in mother-infant relationships and healthy family functioning and decreasing exposure of infants to recurring maternal depressive episodes.
Research Strategy
The Core Research Project of the UW Prevention Research Center, “Addressing Postpartum Depression in Wisconsin Home Visiting Programs,” uses a novel two- generational parent-infant relationship focused, community-based approach to reduce the risks associated with maternal depression. To address the critical gap in access to evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment, Dr. Clark has developed, and pilot tested the incorporation of the Mother-Infant Therapy Group (M-ITG) into federally- funded home visiting programs within urban, rural and Tribal communities in WI. M-ITG is comprised of a Mothers’ Therapy Group and a concurrent Infant Developmental Group followed by Mother-Infant Dyadic Therapy. In pilot studies, the M-ITG preventative intervention approach was found to reduce depressive symptoms in mothers while simultaneously improving the mother-infant relationship and infant developmental functioning.
Research Approach
Researchers are working with community and translational partners to trim and culturally adapt the Mother-Infant Therapy Group (an effective intervention that improvesmaternal depression symptoms and supports mother-infantinteractions) for implementation in Home Visiting programs in urban,rural and Tribal communities across Wisconsin. Recent work has included a Delphi process to gain feedback from 27 perinatal mental health and home visiting prior program users to identify key program elements; pilot program delivery; followed by in-depth interviews with participants for further refinement.
Core Research Project Team
Jane Mahoney, MD
Position title: Associate Director of Translation and Core Research Project Multiple Principal Investigator
