Maternal Functioning and Depression Scores Improve Significantly With Participation in Visiting Moms® Program

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbearing can affect the entire family unit. Health professionals must strive to identify and develop effective, feasible solutions for women during this critical period. AIMS: To determine whether postpartum maternal functioning (as measured by the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning) and depression symptoms (as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were improved after participation in the Visiting Moms program. METHOD: Paired data were collected from women at program intake and after completion of the Visiting Moms program. Visiting Moms provides services through eastern and central Massachusetts and was designed to support new mothers throughout the infant’s first year of life. The study population was composed of adult women living in the Jewish Family and Children’s Services geographic catchment area, who enrolled in Visiting Moms between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all 402 women enrolled in this timeframe. Utilizing a pretest/posttest design, paired t tests were performed for the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning ( n = 149) and for the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ( n = 156), where women had complete scores at both intake and completion, to determine the program’s potential impact on depressive symptoms and functional status. RESULTS: Functioning and depression scores were significantly improved after participation in the program. CONCLUSIONS: Visiting moms, and similar programs, aimed at delivery of enhanced social support, may be effective in promoting mental and emotional wellness among new mothers who are require additional support in the postpartum period.

Introducing the Postpartum Toolkit: An Examination of the Feasibility, Acceptability and Pilot Efficacy of an Online Clinical Tool to Enhance Postpartum Functioning and Emotional Wellbeing

“…As mentioned, changes in all measures was in the direction that would indicate improved wellbeing (average score on function went up, average score on symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression went down). For comparison, a Visiting Moms intervention (a preventative program providing social support to new birth parents) observed an average change of about 16 points on the BIMF over the course of about a year of visits [ 52 ]. The Visiting Moms study was conducted in a similar population to the current study (both were conducted in a sample endorsing minimal to mild depressive symptomatology), and the current study observed nearly a third of this change (average change of about five points on the BIMF) over the course of only six weeks.…”

Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Perinatal Home Visiting in Women with High‐Risk Pregnancies

“…For example, the Jewish Family and Children's Service does that via their Visiting Moms program, which systematically pairs volunteers with clients based on personality and preference. This program has seen impressive and statistically significant reductions in depressive symptoms 29 . By tailoring the program to the woman's needs, deficits are addressed which may also account for an almost 16‐point increase in maternal functioning, a construct meant to reflect daily postpartum functioning 30–32 …”

The Importance of Patient-Centered Research in the Promotion of Postpartum Mental Health

“…When patients are actively involved in medical decision-making, this has been shown to improve outcomes for patients with depression ( 36 ) whereas the assignment of an unacceptable depression treatment has been shown to lead to negative outcomes like poor treatment alliance and high rates of attrition ( 37 ). Several other non-pharmacological interventions for peripartum distress that centered the patient by taking an individualized approach and making efforts to lower barriers to support have also demonstrated a positive impact on mental health outcomes ( 38 , 39 ).…”