Trauma-informed data science to prevent intimate partner violence among pregnant and postpartum women

Emory University, Atlanta GA

Investigators

Abstract

ABSTRACT We aim to develop a short course titled “Trauma-Informed Data Science and Digital Health Technologies to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence among Pregnant/Postpartum Women” that will train a new generation of researchers in specialized research techniques, such as big data analytics and digital health technologies, to measure or predict intimate partner violence (IPV) more accurately and develop accessible, trauma-informed digital tools to support IPV survivors of underrepresented pregnant/postpartum women. We propose this course as an effort to mitigate the existing limitations in measuring, screening, and intervening with IPV to prevent IPV and reach out to more vulnerable survivors for support. There are multiple barriers (e.g., stigma and shame) to collecting reliable data from survivors, resulting in small samples without enough statistical power and, thereby, discouraging the analysis of subgroups of underrepresented women with intersecting identities. Additionally, the existing interventions/services lack scalability because most services are responsive vs. proactive and offered in person, reducing the accessibility to these resources among hard-to-reach survivors. Ethical use of data science and digital health technologies will be innovative research tools for targeted yet wide-reach preventive strategies for survivors of underrepresented pregnant/postpartum women. The ethical use indicates factoring in the unintended consequences of employing big data analytics and digital health technologies and applying trauma-informed principles in the research processes and products. Our specific aims are (i) training researchers in big data analytics to work with complex data containing IPV, pregnancy-related, and social determinants of health variables from various sources; (ii) teaching them the best practices to develop, deploy, and disseminate digital tools (e.g., mobile app and game) that are trauma- informed; (iii) instructing them conducting ethical research acknowledging the importance of digital security and privacy in working with IPV survivors. This 6-month education program will welcome trainees with diverse backgrounds from across the country for hybrid online learning (combination of asynchronous and synchronous) and intensive, hands-on curriculum to maximize the effectiveness of the training, wide reach to target groups, and readily disseminate the course. Year 2 will repeat the Year 1 curriculum with its refinement based on the trainees’ feedback. The program will also involve working groups, in which trainees will generate research ideas and apply the knowledge and skills obtained from the course for manuscripts or grants, as well as networking opportunities for mentorship and collaboration. This program will be held at the Emory University School of Nursing, leveraging its rich institutional and human resources, including the current T32 program focusing on women’s health and data science. By bringing together training, research, and networking, we will create a long-lasting community of scholars who can engage in data-driven interdisciplinary research for years to come to prevent IPV-associated maternal morbidity and mortality.