The pregnant moms' empowerment program - Mexico enhances mental health for women exposed to intimate partner violence: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose: Given the lack of available and effective interventions to address the detrimental consequences of perinatal exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) on maternal mental health, and reported very low access to IPV-related mental health services in Mexico, we examined the feasibility and efficacy of a culturally adapted, virtual, brief group psychosocial intervention designed to improve maternal mental and physical health and reduce IPV revictimization for pregnant women exposed to IPV. In this pilot randomized controlled trial, we evaluated maternal outcomes after participation in the Pregnant Moms' Empowerment Program (PMEP) in Mexico.

Methods: Women were recruited from social service agencies and health centers in the community, as well as social media advertisements that targeted pregnant women living in Mexico. Women were randomized to receive the intervention (n = 43) or a control condition (i.e., referrals to local services; n = 47). Women completed questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-months postpartum that assessed their exposure to IPV, depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), physical health symptoms, and resilience, as these were our primary outcomes of interest. Women in the intervention condition participated in ten, 60-minute virtual group sessions. Multilevel models were used to evaluate effects of treatment over time.

Results: On average, women in the intervention condition participated in six treatment sessions. Compared to the control group, intervention participants reported significantly fewer symptoms of depression at both the post-intervention and 3-month postpartum assessments (d = 0.64, d = 0.59, respectively) and fewer physical health symptoms at the post-intervention assessment (d = 0.77). Trend-level improvements in PTSS scores for post-intervention (d = 0.56) and 3-months postpartum (d = 0.56), as well as physical health at 3-months postpartum (d = 0.59), were also observed. There were no group differences in exposure to IPV over time.

Conclusion: The current study adds to the evidence base for the PMEP intervention while also expanding it to a new cultural context by suggesting promise of its clinical utility in targeting Mexican women's perinatal depression, PTSS, and physical health symptoms.

Keywords: Depression; IPV; Intervention; PTSD; Pregnancy.