Prevalence and associated factors of maternal depression and anxiety among african immigrant women in Alberta, Canada: Quantitative cross-sectional survey study
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of maternal depression and anxiety among African immigrant women living in Alberta, Canada up to 2 years postpartum. This cross-sectional study surveyed 120 African immigrant women within 2 years of delivery in Alberta, Canada from January 2020 to December 2020. The researchers found that social support and community belonging initiatives may improve the maternal mental health outcomes of African immigrant women. Given the complexities immigrant women face, more research is needed on a comprehensive approach for public health and preventive strategies regarding maternal mental health after migration, including increasing access to family doctors.
Notes
Gaps identified
- Cause-and-effect relationships cannot be determined by this research. Additionally, certain factors were not accounted for (e.g. immigration class, ethnicity).
Key recommendations
- Initiatives for community belonging and increased social support may improve maternal depression and/or anxiety of African immigrant women. Settlement and integration programs have an important role in doing this.
Key findings
- Within 2 years of giving birth, nearly 1/3 of the participants met the cutoff score for depression, and 12.1% met the criteria for anxiety.
- The majority of women with depression had a low sense of community belonging and were recent immigrants.
- Maternal depression was also significantly associated with age, employment, local friends, and access to non-emergency medical care.
- Conversely, the majority of women with anxiety were not recent immigrants, however they similarly had a low sense of community belonging.
Location
- Alberta
Community organizations
Integration timeline
Key population
Open access – No
