Supporting Pregnant Individuals Affected by Intimate Partner Violence with Doula Care
Novel doula intervention to leverage clinic-community connections to support perinatal intimate partner violence survivors
This project explores if doula support, combined with clinic resources, can help pregnant and new mothers experiencing intimate partner violence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187229 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Intimate partner violence during pregnancy is a serious issue, and healthcare visits offer a chance to provide help. This project builds on an approach called 'universal empowerment,' where all pregnant patients receive education and resources related to intimate partner violence. We believe that adding support from a trained doula could make this approach even more effective by strengthening social connections and support. This work will compare the standard universal empowerment approach with one that also includes doula support for pregnant individuals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant individuals who are experiencing or at risk of intimate partner violence and are seeking prenatal care would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or are not experiencing intimate partner violence would not directly benefit from this specific support program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide better support and resources for pregnant and new mothers experiencing intimate partner violence, improving their safety and well-being.
How similar studies have performed: While universal empowerment has shown promise in other settings, the specific combination with doula support for intimate partner violence during pregnancy is being rigorously tested in this project.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ragavan, Maya — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Ragavan, Maya
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 below.