About DAPDAM Initiative
The DAPDAM Pilot is part of the Digital-Assisted Assessment and Management of Perinatal Depression initiative. It aims to strengthen the capacity of Health Extension Workers (HEWs) in identifying, assessing, and supporting women experiencing perinatal depression through structured psychosocial management tools.
This pilot incorporates digital training modules, guided assessments, quizzes, and progress monitoring. It supports initial skill-building and evaluation phases, providing evidence on HEW performance and informing the broader DAPDAM research objectives.
Project Objectives
- Strengthen HEW competencies in detecting and managing perinatal depression.
- Provide accessible, self-paced learning modules tailored for Afaan Oromo speakers.
- Facilitate structured assessment of HEW knowledge before and after training.
- Generate evidence to support scalable and effective maternal mental health interventions.
Principal Investigator (PI)
Professor Garumma Feyissa
Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY)
Project Partner
Dr. Sena B. Kitila
Jimma University
Project Location
The pilot is implemented in Jimma, Ethiopia, in collaboration with Jimma University, local health facilities, and the Health Extension Worker program. Field testing occurs within selected communities to ensure relevance and effectiveness.