Maternal depression and anxiety disorders within two years of birth among African immigrant women in Alberta
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Date
2022
Authors
Nwoke, Chinenye Nmanma
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences
Abstract
African immigrant women represent a rapidly growing group in Canada, yet they are underrepresented in maternal mental health research. Research that describes the rates, risk factors, help-seeking behaviors, and effects of depression and anxiety following childbirth among African mothers with young infants is limited. Of the 120 respondents, 27.5% self-reported symptoms of maternal depression, while 12.1% self-reported symptoms of maternal anxiety. Significant predictors of maternal depression included low social support, no access to a regular family doctor, unemployment, and being a non-recent immigrant. Significant predictors of maternal anxiety included low social support, lower levels of education, no access to a regular family doctor, and being a non-recent immigrant. African mothers had low perinatal mental health knowledge but high postpartum mental health knowledge, and were more likely to seek help first from a spouse or partner. Study results underscore the need for increased understanding of the determinants of African immigrant women’s maternal mental health.
Description
Keywords
epidemiology , immigrant health , African immigrants , depression , anxiety , maternal mental health , Epidemiology , Depression, Mental , Depression in women--Research , Postpartum depression--Research , Mothers--Mental health--Research , Women--Mental health--Research , Anxiety in women--Research , Childbirth--Psychological aspects--Research , Motherhood--Psychological aspects--Research , Puerperium--Psychological aspects--Research , Women immigrants--Mental health--Research--Alberta , Africa--Emigration and immigration , Alberta--Emigration and immigration , Africans--Alberta , Dissertations, Academic