Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (MMM)

PCORI funds comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) and related projects related to maternal health to fill evidence gaps and provide information so patients, caregivers, clinicians and other decision makers can make informed decisions about their health and health care. 

View PCORI's MMM Portfolio

Study Results that Support Better-Informed Decisions

Testing the Effectiveness of Adding Group Therapy to Home Visiting Services on Reducing Postpartum Depression in Women with Low Incomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Adding a group therapy program called Mothers and Babies to home visiting services did not reduce depressive symptoms in perinatal women more than home visiting services alone, according to this PCORI-funded research study.

However, group therapy led by a community health worker was comparably effective as group therapy led by a mental health professional in reducing depressive symptoms. The study included 824 perinatal women enrolled in 37 home visiting programs in seven midwestern states. The trial results were published in the Archives of Women’s Mental Health in March 2021.

Read more about the study in this PCORI Story and watch a video interview with Darius Tandon, the study’s Principal Investigator, in which he shares more about his study and reasons why women are not receiving care for postpartum depression.

Can an Online Program Help Women with a History of Preeclampsia Reduce Their Risk of Heart Disease? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Health 4 Moms, an online intervention designed for and by women with a history of preeclampsia to improve healthy lifestyle choices improved patients’ knowledge of heart disease risk, self-efficacy to achieve a healthy diet, and reduced physical inactivity among women with recent preeclampsia, according to this PCORI-funded research study.

The study enrolled 151 mothers nationwide with recent preeclampsia. The trial results were published in the Journal of Women's Health in July 2019.

Telehealth Strategies for the Delivery of Maternal Health Care: A Rapid Review

PCORI commissioned a rapid review to assess evidence on the effectiveness of telehealth strategies for the delivery of maternal healthcare. Because telemedicine has experienced a swift and widespread adoption in the United States, PCORI sought to understand the evidence base on a compressed timeline in order to inform our future research investments.

The evidence synthesized in this rapid review indicates that telehealth for maternal health care delivery is a promising alternative and/or supplement to usual, in-person care. Equally important are the evidence gaps identified in this review that point us to future research priorities. Full results of this rapid review are also available in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

View Rapid Review Report Read Related Blog

PCORI Story: 'We Know What the Research Says:' Transforming Peripartum Care for Black Birthing People

The US healthcare system must do better by Black birthing people. PCORI-funded studies are just one of the ways through which three Black women researchers are supporting and fortifying the networks of diverse birthing support needed to address health inequities for Black birthing people.

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