Title: MaternalEase: A Culturally-Tailored Approach to Supporting Mental Health in Perinatal Black Women Through Digital Innovation  

Date: Monday, March 10, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST

Location (Virtual):

https://gatech.zoom.us/j/94763214012?pwd=a68Yrj2uNa9yJ5aVyqhepryzWHZB3g.1

Passcode: 4283179

Meeting ID:  947 6321 4012

Vanessa Ogumanam

CS Ph.D. Student

School of Interactive Computing

College of Computing

Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee:

• Dr. Andrea G. Parker, PhD (Advisor) – School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Tech
• Dr. Neha Kumar – School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Tech
• Dr. Jennifer Kim – School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Tech
• Dr. Heather Cole-Lewis  - Google
• Dr. Kevin Doherty - School of Information & Comm. Studies, University College Dublin

Abstract:

Perinatal mental health is a growing concern in the United States, particularly among racially minoritized groups like Black women, who face increased risks for developing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) due to systemic inequities, racial bias, and social barriers. Despite experiencing higher rates of PMADs and chronic stress compared to their White counterparts, research shows that Black women are less likely to utilize traditional mental health support tools due to. Barriers such as cost, access, and the lack of culturally competent care contribute to this disparity. Mobile health (mHealth) applications present a promising avenue to address these barriers, as more than 80% of Black women own smartphones. Although the potential of mHealth tools in supporting perinatal mental health has been explored within the HCI, CSCW, and health informatics communities, these interventions have been predominantly evaluated with White and Asian women, leaving a gap in understanding their effectiveness for Black women. My work addresses this gap by investigating the current utilization, lived experiences, and perspectives of perinatal Black women toward adopting digital platforms to support their mental health in their daily lives. Through formative studies, I assess how well current digital platforms meet their mental health needs. Building on these insights, I propose further research to explore how information and communication technologies can be designed to promote adaptive stress-coping behaviors among this population. Leveraging participatory user-centered design methods—including diary studies, design workshops, iterative design, and a field deployment—I aim to develop and evaluate a culturally-tailored mHealth tool tailored to Black moms, with the goal of determining how such an intervention can enhance user engagement and stress management more effectively in comparison to an existing commercial platform. Ultimately, this work will contribute both empirical and design insights to the field of digital mental health interventions, with a focus on supporting stress management and well-being in perinatal Black women. It will also provide a discussion on how the intersecting identities of race, culture, and gender may influence digital mental health innovation and research.