WIP 106 - Correlation of Postpartum Depression with Food, Housing and Transportation Insecurity in a Level IV NICU

Poster Number: WIP 106
Publication Number: WIP 106.890

Background: In Washington DC alone, the rate of child poverty was 22.8% in 2020. Low family income is in turn associated with higher rates of maternal postpartum depression and subsequently, poor maternal, infant and family outcomes. Approximately 13% of women in Washington DC who underwent recent birth report postpartum depression. The link between postpartum depression and Social Determinant of Health (SDoH) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting is not well studied. It is therefore necessary to determine the extent of correlation to allow clinicians to better address the need for their families prior to discharge.

Objective: Determine the rates of food, housing, and transportation insecurity in the Children’s National Hospital (CNH) NICU.

Evaluate the correlation between postpartum depression and food, housing, and transportation insecurity.

Design/Methods: Parents who are 2 weeks postpartum and >18yo will be identified. Non-English-speaking parents who meet these criteria will be provided with an in-person interpreter while obtaining informed consent and while completing the screening tools. Informed consent will be completed using an IRB-approved consent form. A screening tool to evaluate SDoH was created from previously validated clinical screening tools. Electronic versions of the screening tool will be available via RedCap secure link. Data collection is ongoing and will continue for 2-4 more months to achieve a goal of 60 subjects. The CNH NICU screens about 60 parents per month for postpartum depression and this comprises about 50%-70% of study-eligible parents. Both mothers and fathers will be included with only one SDOH screen per family. Categorical variables will be analyzed using chi square and Fischer exact test to determine differences between those with positive and negative EPDS. An analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and regression analysis will be required to compare the groups for the 3 variables. Currently, 12 participants have completed both the SDoH screening tool and EPDS.