Association between prenatal depressive symptoms and receipt of recommended maternal and infant care postpartum.

Background: Maternal mental health can impact health care access and utilization for both the birthing parent and infant. We examined the association between prenatal depressive symptoms (episodic and chronic) and receipt of the postpartum 6-week visit and infant vaccinations in the first year postpartum.

Methods: Postpartum individuals (N = 672) who attended Expect With Me group prenatal care in Nashville, Tennessee and Detroit, Michigan completed surveys during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, as well as 6- and 12- months postpartum.

Indicators from The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: Perspectives and Experience of City Leaders from 118 Cities.

Rapid urbanization and escalating climate crises place cities at the critical juncture of environmental and public health action. Urban areas are home to more than half of the global population, contributing ~ 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Structured surveys were completed by 191 leaders in city governments and civil society from 118 cities in 52 countries (February-April 2024).

A group prenatal care intervention reduces gestational weight gain and gestational diabetes in American Samoan women.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the preliminary effectiveness of an intervention to mitigate adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with pre-pregnancy obesity in American Samoa.

Methods: We enrolled n = 80 low-risk pregnant women at <14 weeks' gestation. A complete case analysis was conducted with randomized group assignment (group prenatal care-delivered intervention vs.

Narratives of pregnancy across 19 Countries: Analysis of a 1.5-billion-word news media database.

Pregnancy is a universal experience shaped by sociocultural contexts. News media presents a unique opportunity to analyze public narratives of pregnancy and how it differs across cultures. Our study aims to (1) identify the most prevalent overall themes in news media narratives of pregnancy across 19 English-speaking countries, and (2) compare pregnancy narratives across geographic regions.

Association between mindful and practical eating skills and eating behaviors among racially diverse pregnant women in four selected clinical sites in the United States.

Mindful eating is a promising strategy to address problematic eating behaviors; however, little is known about its applicability during pregnancy. No studies have examined the combined effects of mindful and practical eating skills on eating behaviors. We examined associations between mindful and practical eating skills and eating behaviors (nutritional intake and emotional eating) among pregnant women who received psychoeducation on healthy eating and pregnancies.

Discrimination and perinatal depressive symptoms: The protective role of social support and resilience.

Background: Discrimination is an important social determinant of perinatal depression; however, evidence is limited regarding modifiable social and psychological factors that may moderate this association. We examined whether social support and resilience could protect against the adverse effects of discrimination on perinatal depressive symptoms.

Methods: Pregnant people (N = 589) receiving Expect With Me group prenatal care in Nashville, TN and Detroit, MI completed surveys during third trimester of pregnancy and six months postpartum.

Group prenatal care successes, challenges, and frameworks for scaling up: a case study in adopting health care innovations.

Background: Group prenatal care enhances quality of care, improves outcomes, and lowers costs. However, this healthcare innovation is not widely available. Using a case-study approach, our objectives were to (1) examine organizational characteristics that support implementation of Expect With Me group prenatal care and (2) identify key factors influencing adoption and sustainability.

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms One Year Postpartum.

Pregnancy carries substantial risk for developing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), with potential lifelong impacts on bladder health. Little is known about modifiable psychosocial factors that may influence the risk of postpartum LUTSs. We examined associations between depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and postpartum LUTSs, and the moderating effects of perceived social support, using data from a cohort study of Expect With Me group prenatal care (n = 462).

Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Emotional Eating but Not Nutritional Intake During Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Pregnancy is a major life event during which women may experience increased psychological distress and changes in eating behaviors. However, few studies have investigated the influence of psychological distress on pregnant women's eating behaviors. The primary objective of this prospective study was to examine the associations of changes in perceived stress and depressive symptoms with emotional eating and nutritional intake during pregnancy.

"'Oh gosh, why go?' cause they are going to look at me and not hire": intersectional experiences of black women navigating employment during pregnancy and parenting.

Background: Workplace legal protections are important for perinatal health outcomes. Black birthing people are disproportionally affected by pregnancy discrimination and bias in the employment context and lack of family-friendly workplace policies, which may hinder their participation in the labor force and lead to gender and racial inequities in income and health. We aimed to explore Black pregnant women's experiences of pregnancy discrimination and bias when looking for work, working while pregnant, and returning to work postpartum.

COVID-19 stressors and health behaviors: A multilevel longitudinal study across 86 countries.

Anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and home confinement has been associated with adverse health behaviors, such as unhealthy eating, smoking, and drinking. However, most studies have been limited by regional sampling, which precludes the examination of behavioral consequences associated with the pandemic at a global level. Further, few studies operationalized pandemic-related stressors to enable the investigation of the impact of different types of stressors on health outcomes.

"Police shootings, now that seems to be the main issue" - Black pregnant women's anticipation of police brutality towards their children.

Background: A disproportionate number of people who are killed by police each year are Black. While much attention rightly remains on victims of police brutality, there is a sparse literature on police brutality and perinatal health outcomes. We aimed to explore how Black pregnant women perceive police brutality affects them during pregnancy and might affect their children.

Group Medical Care: A Systematic Review of Health Service Performance.

Group care models, in which patients with similar health conditions receive medical services in a shared appointment, have increasingly been adopted in a variety of health care settings. Applying the Triple Aim framework, we examined the potential of group medical care to optimize health system performance through improved patient experience, better health outcomes, and the reduced cost of health care. A systematic review of English language articles was conducted using the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Embase.

Group prenatal care and improved birth outcomes: Results from a type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study.

To compare birth outcomes for patients receiving Expect With Me (EWM) group prenatal care or individual care only, we conducted a type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial (Detroit and Nashville, 2014-2016). Participants entered care <24 weeks gestation, had singleton pregnancy, and no prior preterm birth (N = 2402). Mean participant age was 27.

Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sexual Risk among Postpartum Women.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with sexual risk, especially during adolescence, and with maternal and child health outcomes for women of reproductive age. However, no work has examined how ACE exposure relates to sexual risk for women during the postpartum period. In a convenience sample of 460 postpartum women, we used linear and logistic regression to investigate associations between ACE exposure (measured using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale) and five sexual risk outcomes of importance to maternal health: contraceptive use, efficacy of contraceptive method elected, condom use, rapid repeat pregnancy, and incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Virtual group consultations offer continuity of care globally during Covid-19.

Covid-19 has led to virtual care (mainly telephone consultations) becoming a default worldwide, despite well-documented shortcomings. Published evidence on virtual group consultations is limited, although interest and front-line experience have grown substantially since pandemic onset. Unpublished data are summarised showing feasibility of transitioning care to this model across different countries, care settings and conditions.

Black Pregnant Women "Get the Most Judgment": A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Black Women at the Intersection of Race, Gender, and Pregnancy.

Background: Pronounced racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes persist in the United States. Using an ecosocial and intersectionality framework and biopsychosocial model of health, we aimed to understand Black pregnant women's experiences of gendered racism during pregnancy.

Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 24 Black pregnant women in New Haven, Connecticut.

Large for Gestational Age and Risk for Academic Delays and Learning Disabilities: Assessing Modification by Maternal Obesity and Diabetes.

The objective of this study was to examine academic delays for children born large for gestational age (LGA) and assess effect modification by maternal obesity and diabetes and then to characterize risks for LGA for those with a mediating condition. Cohort data were obtained from the New York City Longitudinal Study of Early Development, linking birth and educational records ( = 125,542). Logistic regression was used to compare children born LGA (>90th percentile) to those born appropriate weight (5-89th percentile) for risk of not meeting proficiency on assessments in the third grade and being referred to special education.

Perinatal Depressive Symptom Trajectories Among Adolescent Women in New York City.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to estimate distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms among adolescent women across the perinatal period.

Methods: Using longitudinal depressive symptom data (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) from control participants in the Centering Pregnancy Plus Project (2008-2012), we conducted group-based trajectory modeling to identify depressive symptomatology trajectories from early pregnancy to 1-year postpartum among 623 adolescent women in New York City. We examined associations between sociodemographic, psychosocial, and pregnancy characteristics and the outcome, depressive symptom trajectories.

Application of the Social Vulnerability Index for Identifying Teen Pregnancy Intervention Need in the United States.

Objectives Originally developed to assess emergency preparedness, evidence suggests the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) may also be useful to investigate multilevel environmental and social influences on health risk behaviors and outcomes. This ecological study explores the application of the SVI as a predictor of teen pregnancy rates across counties in the United States (U.S.

Racial and ethnic disparities in adverse birth outcomes: Differences by racial residential segregation.

Racial and ethnic disparities in adverse birth outcomes have persistently been wide and may be explained by individual and area-level factors. Our primary objective was to determine if county-level black-white segregation modified the association between maternal race/ethnicity and adverse birth outcomes using birth records from the National Center for Health Statistics (2012). Based on maternal residence at birth, county-level black-white racial residential segregation was calculated along five dimensions of segregation: evenness, exposure, concentration, centralization, and clustering.

PROCESS AND SYSTEMS: A systems approach to embedding group consultations in the NHS.

Group consultations are an important care option that is -starting to gain traction in the USA and Australia. This review summarises the likely benefits accruing from a systems -approach to implementing group consultations widely in the NHS and other socialised healthcare systems. Existing evidence is mapped to five distinct systems approaches: (1) development; (2) different age groups; (3) patient-centred pathway of care; (4) NHS system changes; and (5) education.

Associations between intimate partner violence profiles and mental health among low-income, urban pregnant adolescents.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and child health outcomes, including poor mental health. Previous IPV research has largely focused on women's victimization experiences; however, evidence suggests young women may be more likely to engage in bilateral violence (report both victimization and perpetration) or perpetrate IPV (unilateral perpetration) during pregnancy than to report being victimized (unilateral victimization). This study examined prevalence of unilateral victimization, unilateral perpetration, and bilateral violence, and the association between these IPV profiles and mental health outcomes during pregnancy among young, low-income adolescents.