This study tested whether a peer mentor text message program (called the Nurture program) could help support mental health during pregnancy and after birth. In the study, 127 pregnant people in Washington state were randomly placed to in one of two groups: Nurture group - could text with a trained peer mentor and Control group got automated informational text messages. Researchers looked at how much participants used the program and whether it affected symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress related to parenting. Most people in the Nurture group actively used the program. Nearly all responded to their mentor and there was an average of 32 back and forth text conversations. Mentors usually started more conversations than participants did. People using Nurture had lower anxiety six weeks after giving birth compared to the control group. However there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for depression or parenting stress. The findings suggest that having two way text conversations with peer mentors is well received and may help reduce anxiety soon after birth. More research with larger groups is needed to understand the full benefits and how to make the program widely available.
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Change from baseline in depressive symptoms over time as measured by the PHQ-9
Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months postpartum.
Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms over time, as measured by GAD-7.
Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months postpartum.
Change from baseline to 9 months in Parenting Stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Scale
Timeframe: 6 weeks and 9 months postpartum.
Feasibility of enrolment as measured by number of participants enrolled
Timeframe: Baseline
Intervention engagement as measured by number of messages exchanged
Timeframe: Baseline, 9 months postpartum