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Variation of Behavioral Health Care by Behavioral Health Symptom Profile Among a Diverse Group of Pregnant and Parenting Mothers

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Abstract

This study examines the association between behavioral health symptoms and use of behavioral health care (BHC; i.e., past year counseling and/or regular use of psychiatric medication) among a diverse group of mothers of toddlers. Data were from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study (N = 4205 mothers). The association between symptom profiles (i.e., depressive, anxiety, and alcohol and drug dependence) and use of BHC was estimated with logistic regression models. Potential moderation by race/ethnicity was examined. Complex symptom profiles, older age, functional limitations, prior behavioral health symptoms, and having Medicaid were associated with increased BHC use. While BHC use varied by symptom profile (but not by race/ethnicity), BHC use was low across profiles. Pregnant women and women of color were most likely to have unmet needs, underscoring the need to improve screening and management systems for these populations.

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Funding

Dr. Weiss-Laxer's research was supported by the C. Sylvia and Eddie C. Brown Community Health scholarship and the Health Resources and Services Administration award number T32HP30035 (PI: Linda S. Kahn).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Nomi S. Weiss-Laxer PhD, MPH, MA, Sara B. Johnson PhD, MPH & Anne W. Riley PhD

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Nomi S. Weiss-Laxer PhD, MPH, MA

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Sara B. Johnson PhD, MPH

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  1. Nomi S. Weiss-Laxer PhD, MPH, MA
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  2. Sara B. Johnson PhD, MPH
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Correspondence to Nomi S. Weiss-Laxer PhD, MPH, MA.

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Weiss-Laxer, N.S., Johnson, S.B. & Riley, A.W. Variation of Behavioral Health Care by Behavioral Health Symptom Profile Among a Diverse Group of Pregnant and Parenting Mothers. J Behav Health Serv Res 48, 36–49 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-020-09701-9

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