TY - JOUR
AU - J. M. Jester
AU - C. Bengel
AU - M. Issa
AU - M. Duprey
AU - J. L. Riggs
AU - C. M. Hoffman
AU - S. D. Harris
AU - M. Muzik
AU - K. L. Rosenblum
A1 - 
AB - We compared referrals and connection to care between perinatal patients: 90 receiving OB/GYN care in clinics with integrated behavioral health consultants with infant mental health specialization (IMH-BHC), and 68 receiving traditional care, in the United States. Participants identified as: Native American/Alaskan native, 1.90%; Asian, .63%; African American, 58.23%; Middle Eastern, 6.96%; African National/Caribbean Islander, .63%; Latin-American, 8.86%; and White, 28.48%. Approximately 80% of families in each group were offered referrals. By design, intervention women received mental health services during pregnancy; 16% of women in either group received postpartum mental health services. Intervention group participants were over three times as likely to engage in IMH home visiting. Treatment families were less likely to follow up with infant referrals, but also had fewer infant emergency room visits. All intervention participants met with an IMH-BHC prior to recruitment; however, only 20% self-reported encounters with a mental health professional, indicating these interactions may not be identified by the participants as mental health care; therefore, openness to treatment may be increased for women who feel stigma around mental health care. Given the importance of perinatal mental health, OB/GYN clinics and others serving perinatal patients may consider integrating IMH providers as part of the care team.
AD - Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.; University of Michigan School of Social Work, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.; Starfish Family Services, 30000 Hiveley, Inkster, Michigan, USA.; Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Michigan, L4001 Women's Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
AN - 39776412
BT - Infant Ment Health J
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
CP - 1
DA - Jan
DO - 10.1002/imhj.22152
DP - NLM
ET - 20250107
IS - 1
JF - Infant Ment Health J
LA - eng
N2 - We compared referrals and connection to care between perinatal patients: 90 receiving OB/GYN care in clinics with integrated behavioral health consultants with infant mental health specialization (IMH-BHC), and 68 receiving traditional care, in the United States. Participants identified as: Native American/Alaskan native, 1.90%; Asian, .63%; African American, 58.23%; Middle Eastern, 6.96%; African National/Caribbean Islander, .63%; Latin-American, 8.86%; and White, 28.48%. Approximately 80% of families in each group were offered referrals. By design, intervention women received mental health services during pregnancy; 16% of women in either group received postpartum mental health services. Intervention group participants were over three times as likely to engage in IMH home visiting. Treatment families were less likely to follow up with infant referrals, but also had fewer infant emergency room visits. All intervention participants met with an IMH-BHC prior to recruitment; however, only 20% self-reported encounters with a mental health professional, indicating these interactions may not be identified by the participants as mental health care; therefore, openness to treatment may be increased for women who feel stigma around mental health care. Given the importance of perinatal mental health, OB/GYN clinics and others serving perinatal patients may consider integrating IMH providers as part of the care team.
PY - 2025
SN - 0163-9641 (Print); 0163-9641
SP - 95
EP - 111+
ST - Infant mental health integration into OB care leads to increased connection to services during the perinatal period
T1 - Infant mental health integration into OB care leads to increased connection to services during the perinatal period
T2 - Infant Ment Health J
TI - Infant mental health integration into OB care leads to increased connection to services during the perinatal period
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1002/imhj.22152
VL - 46
VO - 0163-9641 (Print); 0163-9641
Y1 - 2025
ER -