Can an evidence-based mental health intervention be implemented into preexisting home visiting programs using...

Area of Science:

• Maternal health
• Mental health intervention implementation
• Health equity

Background:

• Perinatal mental health conditions affect 1 in 8 women, impacting families and leading to adverse outcomes.
• Significant, intersectional disparities exist in diagnosing and treating perinatal depression and anxiety.
• Social support, particularly through home visiting programs (HVPs), is crucial for reducing disparities in rural areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of context on implementing a maternal mental health intervention within HVPs.
• To focus on the lived experiences of diverse populations to reduce disparities in adverse maternal outcomes.
• To adapt facilitation strategies for integrating the Mothers and Babies intervention across different HVP models in rural settings.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing implementation facilitation with multilevel stakeholders to adapt the Mothers and Babies intervention.
• Conducting a hybrid implementation-effectiveness-context trial in two rural Midwestern states (Iowa and Indiana).
• Comparing adapted facilitation against standard education to assess contextual factors and outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study will determine if adapted facilitation improves the uptake and fidelity of the Mothers and Babies intervention.
• It will assess the intervention's positive effects on recipients' depressive symptoms and perceived stress.
• Contextual factors influencing implementation across diverse HVP models will be identified.

Conclusions:

• Adapted facilitation holds promise for improving the integration of evidence-based maternal mental health interventions.
• This research can guide equitable implementation strategies in diverse, particularly rural, contexts.
• The findings aim to reduce disparities and enhance health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women.