Kroll-Desrosiers A, Kinney RL, Marteeny V, Mattocks KM. Exploring the Acceptability of Expanded Perinatal Depression Care Practices Among Women Veterans.
J Gen Intern Med 2022;
37:762-769. [PMID:
36042083 PMCID:
PMC9427169 DOI:
10.1007/s11606-022-07573-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Veterans receive obstetrical care from community-based providers contracted through the Veterans Health Administration (VA); however, Veterans remain eligible for VA mental healthcare in the perinatal period. To date, few studies have focused specifically on the mental health needs of Veterans during the perinatal period.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the acceptability of more comprehensive perinatal mental healthcare screening and treatment in VA care, we explored pregnant and postpartum Veteran perspectives of United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations that aim to expand mental health counseling for the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression.
DESIGN
Semi-structured interviews with pregnant and postpartum Veterans enrolled in VA care, integrated with quantitative survey data.
PARTICIPANTS
Pregnant and postpartum Veterans (n=27) who had delivered infants or were due by February 2020.
APPROACH
Framework analysis with an inductive approach was utilized to understand our data, interpret and code our transcripts, and develop themes.
KEY RESULTS
Fewer than half (44%) of the women reported seeing a mental health provider at the beginning of their pregnancy. We found that Veterans support USPSTF recommendations in the VA, consider mental healthcare to be very important during the perinatal period, would like better access to mental healthcare resources and peer support networks, and suggest that perinatal depression screening could be more extensive.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the implementation of more comprehensive perinatal depression prevention policies and practices within VA care. Understanding the real-world feasibility and prevailing barriers to comprehensive perinatal depression care is needed to inform implementation of the USPSTF recommendations or a similar intervention tailored for VA care.
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