Group-based Prevention of Postpartum Depression: In-person vs. Virtual Delivery

Depression is one of the most common perinatal complications, with 1 in 7 mothers qualifying for a diagnosis of postpartum depression (PPD) and even higher rates for those who identify as Hispanic/Latine, Black or African American, American Indian, or Alaska Native, or by multiple races or ethnicities. This project addresses this major gap in services to prevent PPD, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged and minoritized groups. It tests the benefit of a virtual perinatal preventive intervention in English and Spanish to increase access, scalability and address the mental health needs of underserved populations. This project will test the virtual version against the in-person version of a service-ready efficacious preventive intervention in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This trial will provide a test of a preventive intervention with a strong evidence base that is scalable and can be delivered with fidelity by service providers in settings where obstetric care is received. In this project, pregnant women will be randomized to receive an evidence-based group prevention program (Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for New Moms; ROSE) designed for perinatal populations either a) in person, delivered at the hospital where they are receiving prenatal care or b) virtually, delivered by the same staff via video conferencing, both offered in English and Spanish. Diverse pregnant individuals (N = 900) will be randomized to receive virtual or in-person ROSE. The central outcome, depression, will be assessed via REDCap surveys, prenatally (before the program begins and at the end of gestation) and postpartum (approximately six-weeks, 3, 6, and 12-months after birth). Electronic health records (EHRs) and surveys will be used to examine obstetric, mental health (e.g., standard of care depression screening), and sociodemographic factors linked to health disparities that may impact who benefits most.