Towards reducing perinatal depression and obesity in inner-city Chicago: An innovative approach

Depression, obesity, and lack of self-care are highly prevalent problems for women during pregnancy and postpartum. The UIC Illinois Mother Care Project works within the Chicago community, specifically in women's health clinics (PCC Community Wellness Centers) that treat high-risk, minority women in their perinatal period. Our project's central goals are to improve detection of perinatal mental illness and subsequently to improve self-care by providing MotherCare Kits to the perinatal patients at PCC. MotherCare Kits are toolkits that contain psychosocial educational booklets and themed props that provide a guide for women to create and execute concrete self-care goals in the areas of mental illness and nutrition. Eleven differently themed modules for the MotherCare Kits have been designed; two modules have been implemented (‘Food & Mood, ‘Bonding with Baby') and the remaining nine are due out in the next six months. The protocol for the project involves PCC personnel administering a screening tool for depression (the PHQ-9) during pregnancy and postpartum four times; all women receive a MotherCare Kit whenever their first PHQ-9 is administered. Additionally, nutritional education is available and encouraged for the patients. A data collection system has been established to track outcomes such as: which MotherCare Kit was given, if nutrition education was completed, completion rates for PHQ-9 screenings, etc. Preliminary data shows at least 90% of prenatal patients have been screened for depression, at least 80% have received nutrition education, and women are reporting reduction of symptoms and completion of self-care goals after utilizing the MotherCare Kits.