Date of this Version

4-28-2025

Document Type

DNP Project

Abstract

Antenatal depression remains one of the most undertreated and underrecognized psychiatric complications during pregnancy affecting up to 20 % of pregnant individuals worldwide. In the United States alone, over half a million women each year suffer from this debilitating condition. The consequences are dire: increase risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, impaired mother-infant bonding, suicide, and infanticide. Untreated, it can affect both maternal and fetal well-being, leading to long term developmental and psychosocial challenges for the child and deep emotional physical suffering for the mother. Despite the substantial risk, many healthcare providers lack adequate awareness and training regarding the signs and symptoms of antenatal depression. The failure to recognize and adequately address antenatal depression is not only a missed opportunity for intervention but a profound public health concern. This quality improvement initiative implemented a targeted educational intervention designed to increase awareness, knowledge, and confidence among healthcare providers at Memorial Hospital West in recognizing and managing antenatal depression. Providers were educated on the signs and symptoms as well as the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a validated screening tool for depression. Pre and post-test assessment were conducted to evaluate changes in knowledge and self-efficacy. Post-intervention results demonstrated a notable increase in both provider knowledge and confidence in identifying antenatal depression, underscoring the effectiveness of focused education. By improving provider education, early intervention can change the trajectory of maternal and fetal health outcomes.

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