M-O-M-S on the Bayou: implementation of an intervention to improve mental health after disaster

Pregnant women are a vulnerable population after disaster. Their health may be improved through community-based support programs in addition to their standard prenatal care. We conducted a prenatal peer support program, Mentors Offering Maternal Support (M-O-M-S), focused on improving mental health in hurricane-affected areas in southern Louisiana. M-O-M-S consists of six biweekly sessions covering pregnancy acceptance, maternal role identification, family and partner relationships, preparation for labor/fears around labor, well-being/safety of self and baby, and post-delivery health and maternal-infant bonding. The program is led by a “mentor”, an experienced mother but not necessarily a clinician or social worker, who guides the group in discussing the topic for the day. Starting in 2023, we implemented the M-O-M-S program in the Bayou and River Parishes regions, the two largely rural regions of the state that had been hardest hit by the most recent major hurricane in the area, Ida. Changes made to the program included offering it online and incorporating a session on disaster preparedness and response. Despite a perceived need for the program from community members and clinicians, recruitment and enrollment were substantially below targets. Most participants were either Black (50.9%) or White (39.6%), and a majority reported at least two serious experiences of a hurricane. Mean baseline score on the Edinburgh Depression Scale was 13.2, above levels of concern, and mean baseline score on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was in the “mild anxiety” range. Those who completed the pre- and post-assessments had an average positive change on the depression, anxiety, and pregnancy-related anxiety scales, but no change in perceived stress. Participants expressed strong appreciation of the program, and essentially all participants reported the program achieved its goals and was feasible, appropriate, and acceptable. We conclude that M-O-M-S shows promise as a post-disaster intervention, but significant effort in determining enrollment strategies is necessary to reach a wider range of women who would benefit.