OR - 2 Year (Two Year Follow Up of Maternal Depression)
State: OR

Skill Area: Data Analysis and Monitoring

Internship summary
The Office of Family Health is Oregon’s Title V agency. It includes programs on Perinatal, Child, and Adolescent Health, School Health, Family Planning, Immunization, Oral Health and WIC.

Purpose
To better understand the women who are experiencing depression two years after a live birth.

Goals
To use PRAMS and PRAMS-2 data as a part of a legislatively mandated statewide assessment of depression among pregnant and postpartum women.

Objectives
1) To assess changes in the prevalence of depressive symptoms over time among pregnant and postpartum women.
2) To assess prevalence and risk factors for depression among Oregon women 24 months after a live birth.
3) To summarize findings for inclusion in ongoing state Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment and state legislative Task Force on Maternal Depression

Data or analytic tasks and activities involved
a. Oregon PRAMS is a survey of postpartum women. In 2004, we began re-interviewing PRAMS respondents when their baby is two years old, creating a longitudinal study (called PRAMS-2). We ask the same questions about depressive symptoms in 3 time periods: (1) during pregnancy, (2) 4 months after a live birth and (3) 24 months after the same live birth. The intern will analyze PRAMS-2 data on depression in these 3 time periods with particularly emphasis on the women who report depressive symptoms two years after a live birth.
b. We know that, among PRAMS respondents who gave birth in 2005, 17.8% reported having had depressive
symptoms during pregnancy and 11.2% reported having depression 4 months after birth. The intern will look at the prevalence of depression 24 months after birth and the patterns of depression in the 3 time periods. In particular, we will be interested in which women were most likely to be depressed 24 months after birth in order to develop improved screening and treatment as early as possible.
c. The intern will meet weekly with a team of professional staff to shape the analysis. The intern may also work on the development of an online Perinatal Depression Community Needs and Resource Assessment Survey.
d. The intern will then write up findings and summarize data for state and local health department program staff and for a Task Force created by the state legislature to explore programmatic activity to prevent, screen and treat maternal depression. The intern may also prepare findings for presentation at national meetings and/or publication.

Required data or analytic skills
Some experience using SPSS or SAS is required.

Begin date
05/24/2010

Housing assistance available?
Can identify listing services

Public transportation available?
There is plenty of housing within walking distance. Office is 2 blocks from light rail

More information
We have extensively analyzed PRAMS data on maternal depression. PRAMS-2 data has not yet been analyzed and will be of great interest to legislative Task Force on Maternal Depression.

Attachments