Journal of Pregnancy
Volume 2017, 2017

Scoping Review on Maternal Health among Immigrant and Refugee Women in Canada: Prenatal, Intrapartum, and Postnatal Care (Review) (Open Access)

Khanlou N.* , Haque N. , Skinner A. , Mantini A. , Kurtz Landy C.
  • a Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • b Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • c Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • d Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • e Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract

The last fifteen years have seen a dramatic increase in both the childbearing age and diversity of women migrating to Canada. The resulting health impact underscores the need to explore access to health services and the related maternal health outcome. This article reports on the results of a scoping review focused on migrant maternal health within the context of accessible and effective health services during pregnancy and following delivery. One hundred and twenty-six articles published between 2000 and 2016 that met our inclusion criteria and related to this group of migrant women, with pregnancy/motherhood status, who were living in Canada, were identified. This review points at complex health outcomes among immigrant and refugee women that occur within the compelling gaps in our knowledge of maternal health during all phases of maternity. Throughout the prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods of maternity, barriers to accessing healthcare services were found to disadvantage immigrant and refugee women putting them at risk for challenging maternal health outcomes. Interactions between the uptake of health information and factors related to the process of immigrant settlement were identified as major barriers. Availability of appropriate services in a country that provides universal healthcare is discussed. © 2017 N. Khanlou et al.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

doctor patient relation birth immigrant refugee human Refugees perinatal period statistics and numerical data Humans migrant Canada Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor Risk Factors pregnancy medical information obstetric delivery mother maternal welfare postnatal care Parturition maternal health service Maternal Health Services Health Services Accessibility health care delivery

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85012124639&doi=10.1155%2f2017%2f8783294&partnerID=40&md5=efefd72b43e0053d51eda68d93b187bf

DOI: 10.1155/2017/8783294
ISSN: 20902727
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English