# Advancing Perinatal Health Equity through a Community-engaged Model of Healthcare Services

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2024 · $48,974

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In the US, disparities between non-Hispanic Black and White patients in pregnancy-related outcomes, including
perinatal depression symptomology, are stark and pervasive. Depression symptoms, which can result from social
stress, including racism-related stress, contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related outcomes.
Interventions that buffer against social stress, including racism-related stress, in perinatal care have potential to
reduce racial and ethnic disparities in postpartum depression symptomology. Patient-centered care and social
support are key components for addressing racism-related stress in the healthcare setting. However, to our
knowledge, there are no interventions for prevention and treatment of postpartum depression symptoms for
Black birthing people that are delivered in perinatal care and explicitly promote patient-centered care and provide
social supports. The proposed project engages Beloved Birth Black Centering (BBBC) program in generating
evidence to improve perinatal care interventions that address racism-related stress using a community-engaged
model of perinatal health services created by and for Black birthing people. BBBC incorporates five evidence-
based practices (EBPs): racially concordant care, midwifery-led group perinatal visits, doula support, wrap-
around care, and culturally aligned black birthing education. Through these bundled EBPs, BBBC promotes
patient autonomy, respectful interactions, social connection, and connection to community resources – all of
which have the potential to reduce postpartum depression symptoms. We will employ a pragmatic trial using a
mixed-methods analytic approach to analyze secondary, longitudinal data from electronic health records (EHRs)
and patient surveys. The overall objective of the proposed research is to test a bundled perinatal care intervention
on postpartum depression symptomology and explore mechanisms by which postpartum depression symptoms
can be prevented and treated among Black birthing people. This research proposal’s overall objective aligns with
the NIMHDs’ 2021-2025 strategic goal 3: “Develop and test interventions to reduce health disparities”. Aim 1 will
estimate the association of between BBBC and postpartum depression symptoms among Black birthing people
and will use propensity score analyses to compare postpartum depression symptoms among patients who
received perinatal care through BBBC (treatment group) to those receiving routine perinatal care (comparison
group). Aim 2 will assess the extent to which patient autonomy in decision-making and respectful clinician-patient
interactions in perinatal care is associated with postpartum depression symptoms among BBBC participants
using data from EHRs and patient surveys. Aim 3 will explore how BBBC patient experiences of perinatal care
may impact postpartum depression symptoms using data from patient surveys. This work is responsive to the
growing evidence showing that racism...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10998399
- **Project number:** 1F31MD019996-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Maria De Ornelas
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $48,974
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-19 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10998399

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10998399, Advancing Perinatal Health Equity through a Community-engaged Model of Healthcare Services (1F31MD019996-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10998399. Licensed CC0.

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