Department of Civil Service

Description:

Postpartum depression (PPD) effects approximately 10% of women and presents a public health problem for both women and their families. Risk factors associated with PPD include depression during pregnancy, stressful life events during pregnancy, previous history of depression, poor relationship with partner and socioeconomic status. Left untreated, PPD can have adverse long-term effects for the mother and her children. PPD can be a precursor of chronic recurrent depression for the mother and can lead to emotional, behavioral, cognitive and interpersonal problems for her children later in life. Risk factors for postpartum depression, specifically among NYS population, need to be identified so that interventions may be targeted to those most at risk.
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND GOALS:
Each year, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) conducts data collection for a representative sample of approximately 1,000 new mothers residing outside New York City in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). In addition, New York City has their own PRAMS program, collecting similar information for an annual sample of 1,500 mothers, and shares the data collected with NYS DOH creating a statewide dataset that can provide insight into the health of mother's and babies in NYS.
The sample for this analysis represents approximately 235,000 births per year among residents of New York. The PRAMS is an ongoing surveillance project to collect state specific, population-based maternal health data before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. The NY PRAMS sample is drawn monthly from the state's birth certificate file and consists of women who have had live births 2-6 months earlier. Sampled women receive a standardized confidential questionnaire in the mail. If there is no response to at least two additional mailings, women are contacted and interviewed by telephone.
The survey asks questions on PPD, psychosocial stressors, intimate partner violence, PPD screening during pregnancy and after delivery, tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Birth certificate data included in the PRAMS dataset include maternal demographics (e.g. age, education, race/ethnicity, marital status) and birth outcomes (e.g. birthweight, pregnancy/delivery complications, preterm birth, gestational age).
Study population will be derived from the respondents of the NY PRAMS and NYC PRAMS survey between 2012 -2013.
Student will be expected to analyze data from the NYS PRAMS project (including NYS and NYC) that will describe the prevalence of mother self-reported PPD, diagnosed PPD, and associated risk factors.
This will require analyses using SAS and graphic presentation using SAS, Excel and PowerPoint. The student will work under guidance of the Project Director and other staff, but will be encouraged to think innovatively.
The student will conduct literature review of published papers and reports related to the study, help write a report that clearly highlights risk factors and disparities thereof and deliver a presentation of the results. A student would be expected to do the following tasks:
* Compile data from NYS and NYC PRAMS into one common source
* Perform basic statistical analyses
* Assist mentor with writing of internal reports and possibly a paper for external publication

Skills:

data and statistical analyses

knowledge of SAS, Excel and Power Point

compiling data into one common source

literature reviews

innovative thinking

Internship Areas: Planning/Analysis/Research, Scientific Research