Health Equity/Community Health
Poster Session 1
Brelahn Wyatt-Nash, MD (she/her/hers)
Physician
Walter Reed National Military Medical Centers
Bethesda, MD, United States
Rasheda J. Vereen, MD
Neonatologist
Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center
San Antonio, TX, United States
Teri Ryals, DNP, RN
Certified Nurse Midwife
Naval Medical Center San Diego
San Diego, CA, United States
Erin Blevins, MD
Pediatrician-Hematologist Oncologist
Naval Medical Center San Diego
San Diego, CA, United States
Caitlin Drumm, MD
Neonatologist
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
Bethesda, MD, United States
Gayle Haischer-Rollo, MD
Assistant Dean for Faculty Development
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
Bethesda, MD, United States
Monica A. Lutgendorf, MD
Department Chair, Gynecologic Surgery & Obstetrics
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
Bethesda, MD, United States
: Perinatal mental healthcare is critical to ensuring mental wellness and healthy outcomes for birthing individuals and their babies. We conducted a qualitative study to understand how birthing individuals experienced perinatal mental healthcare in the Military Health System (MHS).
Study Design:
This was an IRB-approved protocol which included Tricare beneficiaries who gave birth within the past five years and were recruited for semi-structured qualitative interviews from Feb 2023 to May 2023. Purposive and snowball sampling was utilized to ensure diverse participation. Interviews were recorded and transcribed with deductive coding, and themes identified until saturation was reached.
Results:
A total of 34 individuals completed interviews, with ten main themes identified, these included the importance of support from their obstetric provider and colleagues, the importance of mental health check-ins during pregnancy, challenges accessing care, feelings of dismissiveness regarding mental health needs, inadequate assessment of symptoms, and curtailing of symptoms and situational stress, lack of care postpartum, waiting extended periods for postpartum visits, concealing symptoms to avoid documentation in chart, and support from doulas and support groups postpartum. A common theme included the need to improve screening, “I had to be proactive about it. I don't think we have adequate screening for, at least for postpartum anxiety.”
Conclusion:
The results of our qualitative study indicate variation in mental health care experiences in the perinatal period. While some individuals had prompt and supportive care, others experienced delays and dismissals by their providers. This provides an opportunity to improve perinatal behavioral healthcare in the MHS.