Maternal depression and anxiety disorders within two years of birth among African immigrant women in Alberta

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.