Postpartum depression screening at well-child visits in Arkansas
Official title: Postpartum depression screening at well-child visits: An evaluation of newly covered Medicaid services in Arkansas”
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11550534 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study examines whether adding depression screening at baby visits in Arkansas improves detection and care for new mothers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $176,308 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM156684-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11550534 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Mothers who have recently given birth and have Medicaid coverage in Arkansas, and who participate in infant well-child visits.
✕Less likely to help
Mothers not engaged with Medicaid or not attending well-child visits may not experience the benefits.
What this research studies
This project will look at how Medicaid’s new coverage for postpartum depression screening during infant well-child visits affects how often screening happens and whether mothers get timely follow-up care. Researchers will link statewide claims data with birth records to compare periods before and after the screening change, using a difference-in-differences approach. The aim is to understand if co-locating mental health screening with infant appointments reduces barriers to care and improves outcomes for mothers and babies. The findings could inform policies to improve perinatal mental health screening and treatment across Arkansas and similar states.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to earlier identification and treatment of postpartum depression, benefiting mothers and their infants.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that integrating mental health screening with pediatric visits can improve detection, though state-specific analyses like this are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Clare C — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Brown, Clare C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Group-based postpartum depression prevention: in-person vs. virtual delivery
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Trajectories of Positive Motivation and Postpartum Depression Risk
This project studies how brain reward function and daily mood patterns before and after birth relate to the risk of postpartum depression, with a focus on mothers and babies.
-
ROSE Scale-Up: Expanding universal postpartum depression prevention for new mothers
A national effort to roll out the ROSE prevention program to all new mothers, to see if universal use can reduce postpartum depression.
-
How Medicaid Postpartum Coverage and PPD Screening Could Improve Diabetes and Blood Pressure Care After Birth
A large NIH grant is studying how extending Medicaid after birth and mandating postpartum depression screening affect care for women with gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related high blood pressure.
-
Virtual group care to prevent postpartum depression in immigrant Latinas
A federally funded program tests a virtual group, based on CBT and attachment theory, to help pregnant women and new mothers from immigrant Latina communities reduce postpartum depression symptoms.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.