Depression has been the predominant focus of perinatal mental health research. However, anxiety rates may be equal to or exceed that of depression during the perinatal period. Perinatal anxiety is associated with adverse birth outcomes such as pre-term and low birth weight for infants. These outcomes may be exacerbated for women of ethnic/racial minority status and/or socioeconomic disadvantage. Thus, research reveals a need for the development of anxiety protocols for perinatal women during routine healthcare visits. The current study takes place in three family medicine clinics that follow a stepped, collaborative care model. A perinatal anxiety screening and care management protocol was developed and implemented. The protocol was implemented through a brief training for practitioners and automatic screening reminders in patients' electronic health records. Rates of perinatal anxiety among patients and providers' anxiety screening rates after implementation were examined. Ethnicity is examined to determine if it is a significant predictor of receiving anxiety screening. Finally, facilitators and barriers to the protocol were assessed using qualitative methods and data gathered from family medicine residents.
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