Supportive doula programs to improve maternal health in New York
Integrated Supportive Care Programs to Improve Maternal Health
This project will find out if providing integrated doula and supportive services to pregnant and postpartum people in New York City improves health for mothers and babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126007 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare health and healthcare use for people who receive free Citywide Doula Initiative services with similar people who do not, using linked Medicaid claims and social services data. They will look at birth outcomes, maternal mental health, cardiovascular health, and severe maternal morbidity, and at prenatal and postpartum care use. The team will also conduct interviews and focus groups with doulas, patients, and hospital staff to learn what helps or blocks full integration of doulas into care teams. Combining the numbers with people’s experiences will show both outcomes and practical steps to improve supportive care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant or recently postpartum people in New York City—especially those eligible for Medicaid and living in neighborhoods served by the Citywide Doula Initiative—are the ideal candidates for the kinds of services studied here.
Not a fit: People who live outside NYC, are not eligible for the local doula programs, or give birth at hospitals not participating in the initiatives are unlikely to directly benefit from the services evaluated.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lower rates of severe maternal complications and improve postpartum mental and physical health by guiding expansion of doula and integrated supportive care programs.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have shown benefits from doula support for birth outcomes and satisfaction, but rigorous large-scale evidence on citywide integrated doula programs and their effects on severe maternal morbidity is limited.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Daw, Jamie Roberta — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Daw, Jamie Roberta
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.