Study of Early Integration of Community Doula and Obstetric Care to Improve Prenatal Health for BlackAfrican American Pregnant People

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating an integrated prenatal care model that combines community doulas and clinical obstetric providers to improve healthcare engagement, trust, and maternal health outcomes for BlackAfrican American pregnant individuals. The study involves three phases initial focus groups to develop the model, a randomized controlled trial comparing the new model to standard care, and dissemination of findings to influence healthcare policy and practice. Participants in the intervention group will receive support from community doulas during four prenatal visits in the second and third trimesters, with communication between doulas and medical providers to address social and clinical risk factors. The control group will receive standard prenatal care from obstetric providers. The study also includes postpartum support to reduce cardiovascular risks and prepares labor and delivery teams for doula involvement. Participants will be followed from enrollment through 12 months postpartum, with assessments of healthcare engagement, trust in providers, perceived discrimination, stress, depression, and maternal morbidity. Data will be collected at baseline, during the third trimester, at birth, and postpartum. Researchers will also track cesarean birth rates, healthcare utilization, breastfeeding initiation, and medical mistrust. The total participation spans prenatal care until one year after delivery.

Building TrUst and UNiting Teams Through DouLa partnErship - BUNDLE