Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada
Volume 33, Issue 11, 2011, Pages 1105-1115

Comparison of Maternity Experiences of Canadian-Born and Recent and Non-Recent Immigrant Women: Findings From the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey (Article)

Kingston D. , Heaman M. , Chalmers B. , Kaczorowski J. , O'Brien B. , Lee L. , Dzakpasu S. , O'Campo P.
  • a Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
  • b Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
  • c Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ottawa Health Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • d Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • e Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
  • f British Columbia Perinatal Services, Provincial Health Service Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • g Maternal and Infant Health Section, Health Surveillance and Epidemiology Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • h Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract

Objective: To compare the maternity experiences of immigrant women (recent, ≤ 5 years in Canada; non-recent > 5 years) with those of Canadian-born women. Methods: This study was based on data from the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey of the Public Health Agency of Canada. A stratified random sample of 6421 women was drawn from a sampling frame based on the 2006 Canadian Census of Population. Weighted proportions were calculated using survey sample weights Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios comparing recent immigrant women with Canadian-born women and non-recent immigrant women with Canadian-born women, adjusting for education, income, parity, and maternal age. Results: The sample comprised 7.5% recent immigrants, 16.3% non-recent immigrants, and 76.2% Canadian-born women. Immigrant women reported experiencing less physical abuse and stress, and they were less likely to smoke or consume alcohol during pregnancy, than Canadian women; however, they were more likely to report high levels of postpartum depression symptoms and were less likely to have access to social support, to take folic acid before and during pregnancy, to rate their own and their infant's health as optimal, and to place their infants on their backs for sleeping Recent and non-recent immigrant women also had different experiences, suggesting that duration of residence in Canada plays a role in immigrant women's maternity experiences. Conclusion: These findings can assist clinicians and policy-makers to understand the disparities that exist between immigrant and non-immigrant women in order to address the needs of immigrant women more effectively. © 2011 Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.

Author Keywords

Postpartum period Pregnancy Newcomer Perinatal Emigration Maternity care Immigration Canada

Index Keywords

puerperal depression maternal care primipara lowest income group psychological aspect alcohol consumption human Health Behavior prepregnancy care population group statistics Stress, Psychological mental stress Maternal Behavior controlled study comparative study Health Surveys social support Spouse Abuse physical abuse Young Adult Humans Adolescent Canada maternal smoking female Emigrants and Immigrants pregnancy child health Canadian life stress Article experience partner violence adult migration recent immigrant woman folic acid maternal welfare Depression, Postpartum Canadian born woman health care disparity attitude to health non recent immigrant woman maternity experience health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84857841507&doi=10.1016%2fS1701-2163%2816%2935078-2&partnerID=40&md5=9f9b5d3f3483c344ea426c60538f8f78
DOI: 10.1016/S1701-2163(16)35078-2
ISSN: 17012163
Cited by: 34
Original Language: English