Intersectionality in Black Maternal Health Experiences: Implications for Intersectional Maternal Mental Health Research, Policy, and Practice.

Introduction: Black women experience significant maternal mortality and morbidity disparities in the United States. Although emerging research has focused on reducing maternal mortality rates among Black birthing individuals, we must explore structural and social factors contributing to mental health outcomes during the perinatal period. Gaps exist where intersectional identities and experiences in maternal and child health are examined.

Understanding the Effects of Trauma Exposure, Life Stress, Intimate Partner Violence, and Depression on Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk in Post-Conflict Liberia.

In sub-Saharan Africa, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a public health concern. The impact of STIs are exacerbated in post-conflict low- and middle-income countries, such as Liberia, where exposure to traumatic events is prevalent and access to mental health services are limited. Following a syndemics framework, this study used regression analyses to explore the independent, additive, and multiplicative effects of four psychosocial conditions (exposure to war-related traumatic events, intimate partner violence [IPV], stressful life events, and depressive symptoms) on self-reported STIs.

The feasibility and acceptability of Project POWER: a mindfulness-infused, cognitive-behavioral group intervention to address mental and sexual health needs of young pregnant women in Liberia.

Background: Following 14 years of civil war in Liberia, war exposure, gender-based violence, and extreme poverty have been identified as key challenges affecting the mental and sexual health of young pregnant women and the health of their unborn children. Despite ongoing efforts to rebuild the country's healthcare infrastructure, empirical and culturally tailored interventions to address the consequences of war are severely limited. To address these concerns, we developed Project POWER (Progressing Our Well-being, Emotions, and Relationships), a mindfulness-infused, cognitive-behavioral intervention for young adult pregnant women.

Examining the Influence of Trauma Exposure on HIV Sexual Risk Between Men and Women in Post-Conflict Liberia.

The adverse impact of exposure to war-related traumatic events on mental health is well documented. Few studies, however, have focused on the impact of exposure to war-related traumatic events on HIV sexual risk behavior in post-conflict countries such as Liberia. We investigated whether exposure to war-related traumatic events was linked to HIV sexual risk behavior, and identified potential mediators of this relationship, including stressful life events, problematic alcohol use, and intimate partner violence (IPV) among women and men in Liberia.