A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF ADAPTATIONS BY PERINATAL PSYCHIATRY ACCESS PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTHCARE EQUITY

Abstract

Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs (“access programs”) build the capacity of healthcare professionals in the perinatal field. As a systems-level intervention, the access programs aim to improve perinatal mental healthcare. This study uses multivariate regression analysis to examine (1) state and program characteristics associated with mental healthcare equity adaptations and (2) state factors associated with the creation of access programs. The analysis showed that both state and program characteristics correlated with mental healthcare equity adaptations. The state qualities that showed a positive relationship with creating an access program were federal funding, the legislative majority party, the percent of births to marginalized people, and median household income. These findings reveal that decisions regarding equity adaptations can lead to more targeted interventions within the national network of access programs as well as provide insight. Understanding the critical factors associated with states could inform the existing network to ensure success in creating new programs.