background: Millennium Development Goals cites maternal health as a global health priority. Mental and behavioral disorders are the greatest contributors regarding disease burden in women of childbearing age, yet few public health interventions target maternal health and mental health in low-resource settings such as LMICs. The current study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of Project POWER, a cognitive behavioral mindfulness-infused group-based mental and sexual health intervention for emerging adult pregnant women. An open trial quasi-experimental design was employed. Eighty pregnant women were recruited from a community health clinic (n=40 Project POWER; n=Health Education Control).

methods: A mixed-methods approach was used to assess feasibility, including participant satisfaction, recruitment and retention, and adherence. To evaluate preliminary effectiveness of the intervention to reduce adverse mental and sexual health outcomes, baseline (pre-intervention) and 3-month post assessments measured depressive symptomology, prenatal distress, life stressors, PTSD symptoms, and engagement in transactional sex.

results: Results provide support for Project POWER feasibility. Additionally, results indicated significant reductions in depression symptoms [F (1,41) =6.621, p=.014, Cohen’s d=.80] and transactional sex [F (1,66=10.15, p<.001, Cohen’s d=.78] from baseline to follow up and between intervention and control.

conclusion: Findings suggest the usefulness of Project POWER among young adult pregnant women in a group-based setting in low- and middle-income countries to reduce the prevalence of depression and transactional sex. By reducing depression and improving social support, we can improve maternal health outcomes in LMICs.