Unmet Perinatal Mental Health Needs of Racially and Ethnically Marginalized Pregnant Birthing People
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Project
College/School
College of Nursing
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Project Mentor
Colleen Woolsey
Readers
Gabriel Hardt
Abstract
Background: The negative impacts of perinatal mental illness are vast, including impaired physiological health of the birthing parent and child, impaired bonding, poor childhood socioemotional development, and financial burden. Although birthing parents of all racial and ethnic backgrounds can experience such outcomes, racially and ethnically marginalized birthing parents and their children are subject to compounded risk for poor outcomes. Little to no studies have specifically and solely examined perinatal mental health needs and preferences of racially and ethnically marginalized birthing parents in the Seattle area. Examination of such needs are necessary to implement interventions downstream that effectively reduce the perinatal mental health disparity.
Objectives: The overall purpose of the project is to assist a midwifery clinic in their effort to prioritize perinatal mental health for racially and ethnically marginalized patients. The goal of this project is threefold: (1) examine unmet perinatal mental health needs of pregnant, racially and ethnically marginalized birthing people receiving prenatal care at a community-based midwifery clinic in Seattle and (2) examine midwifery providers’ knowledge in perinatal mental health prior to and following a mental health training that is guided by patient results and (3) provide recommendations for next steps.
Methods: This project was a preliminary needs assessment that informed a subsequent perinatal mental health provider education intervention.
Findings: (Perinatal Mental Health Unmet Needs Assessment Some patients did not report satisfaction with the amount of time spent speaking with the midwifery provider about their mental health. Preferred qualities or types of mental health services included individual therapy, mental health resources, telehealth, flexible scheduling, and low cost. Preferred qualities in a perinatal mental health provider included same gender and specialization in perinatal mental health care. (Provider Educational Intervention All provider participants reported inadequacy in knowledge of perinatal mental health services. Providers’ perinatal mental health knowledge increased following a perinatal mental health training built upon results from the patient findings.
Recommended Citation
Sholar, Courtney, "Unmet Perinatal Mental Health Needs of Racially and Ethnically Marginalized Pregnant Birthing People" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 139.
https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/dnp-projects/139