Results from an effectiveness-implementation evaluation of a postpartum depression prevention intervention delivered in home visiting programs

Building on growing research examining lay health professionals delivering postpartum depression preventive interventions, we conducted a hybrid effectiveness-implementation Type 2 trial to examine implementation metrics and determine whether pregnant women receiving Mothers and Babies 1-on-1 delivered by lay home visitors exhibit greater reductions in depressive symptoms and perceived stress than women receiving usual home visiting. 1229 (672 control, 557 intervention) pregnant women were enrolled, with intervention participants receiving Mothers and Babies 1-on-1 delivered by a lay home visitor and control participants receiving usual home visiting services. Baseline and six-month follow-up assessments measured client mental health outcomes, with management information system data collected to assess intervention dosage. Surveys were administered nine months post-training to agency managers as well as home visitors who delivered any intervention content. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated a significant reduction in perceived stress among intervention participants compared to controls, while as-treated analyses showed significant reductions in perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Although all study sites adopted the intervention,