A recent study led by Bianca Gherghe ’25, an Honors Student at the WSU College of Nursing, in collaboration with WSU thesis advisor and primary investigator Dr. Shawna Beese1, and co-investigators Dr. Sheila Hurst and Dr. Janessa Graves2, sheds light on disparities in mental health service utilization among pregnant women, with a focus on African American populations. The research, titled “Mental health service utilization among pregnant women in NIH All of Us research program,” highlights the challenges minority women face when accessing perinatal mental health care.
Implications for Healthcare
The research team emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities. Dr. Beese remarked, this “study add[s] to a growing body of evidence that spotlights disparities in maternal health…[and] spotlights the importance of mental health access as part of comprehensive maternal care.”
Gherghe hopes the study will inform policymakers and healthcare providers, urging them to address the “systemic barriers in place that minimize the opportunity to establish health equity, and simultaneously prevent minority women, especially pregnant Black women, from accessing mental health services.”
Moving Forward
The researchers advocate for community-specific assessments to better understand the unique barriers faced by minority populations. They emphasize the importance of culturally competent, inclusive care that supports mental health for all women, regardless of race or ethnicity.
This study was funded by a grant from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
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Footnotes
1 College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), Washington State University
2 School of Medicine, University of Washington
Uncovering Disparities
According to the study, approximately 10% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women report experiencing a mental health disorder, with perinatal mental disorders being among the most common complications during childbearing. However, the research found that African American women may face disproportionate challenges in accessing these essential services compared to their White counterparts.
One of the most striking findings was the statistically significant difference in mental health service utilization based on pregnancy status. The research used data from the NIH All of Us Research Program and employed statistical analysis to uncover that while pregnancy status affected mental health utilization overall, the impact was notably more pronounced among African American respondents.
Dr. Shawna Beese noted, “The NIH All of Us Research Program provides access to a rich data pool not previously represented in biomedical research,” allowing the examination of disparities with greater accuracy.
Student Perspective
Bianca Gherghe shared insights into her motivation for the project, stating,
“Throughout my clinical experiences, I noticed that among perinatal and postpartum care, there was very little emphasis on maternal mental health, despite its undeniable importance.
I wanted to further explore the topic of perinatal mental health and highlight where exactly, and why, disparities exist in the accessibility of this very necessary realm of perinatal healthcare for pregnant and postpartum women.”
Reflecting on the findings, Gherghe added, “it was both surprising and disheartening to see how significantly diminished accessibility to mental health services was for women who identified as African American or Black”. The data not only confirmed disparities but highlighted the specific struggles faced by Black women compared to other minority groups.
Implications for Healthcare
The research team emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities. Dr. Beese remarked, this “study add[s] to a growing body of evidence that spotlights disparities in maternal health…[and] spotlights the importance of mental health access as part of comprehensive maternal care.”
Gherghe hopes the study will inform policymakers and healthcare providers, urging them to address the “systemic barriers in place that minimize the opportunity to establish health equity, and simultaneously prevent minority women, especially pregnant Black women, from accessing mental health services.”
Moving Forward
The researchers advocate for community-specific assessments to better understand the unique barriers faced by minority populations. They emphasize the importance of culturally competent, inclusive care that supports mental health for all women, regardless of race or ethnicity.
This study was funded by a grant from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
Follow WSU College of Nursing on social media to stay updated on research and initiatives: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, BlueSky.
Footnotes
1 College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), Washington State University
2 School of Medicine, University of Washington
