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Obstetrics and Gynecology International
Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 593413, 6 pages
doi:10.1155/2012/593413
Mothering Here and Mothering There: International Migration and Postbirth Mental Health
1Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7, Canada
2Université Sainte-Anne, Pointe-de-l'Église, NS, BOW 1M0, Canada
3Women’s Health Mission, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H3H 2R9, Canada
4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Ingram School of Nurisng, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7, Canada
Received 27 July 2012; Revised 11 October 2012; Accepted 15 October 2012
Academic Editor: Adrienne Einarson
Copyright © 2012 Stephanie S. Bouris et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Over 125,000 women immigrate to Canada yearly—most in their childbearing years and many having given birth before immigrating. We sought to (1) examine the background characteristics and mental health profile of women separated from their children due to migration and subsequently giving birth in Canada (“dual-country (DC) mothers”) and (2) contrast these with those of “non-dual-country” migrant mothers. Of 514 multiparous migrant women giving birth, one-fifth (18%) reported being separated from their children due to migration. Over one-third of DC mothers were living in poverty (36.0% versus 18.6%, ), and one in seven was experiencing household food insecurity (16.3% versus 7.6%, ). Over one-third had no partner (40.2% versus 11.4%, ), and nearly one-quarter reported no available support (23.1% versus 12.2%, ). Over three-quarters were asylum seekers or refugees (83.7% versus 51%, ). More DC than non-DC mothers had symptoms of postpartum depression (28.3% versus 18.6%, ), symptoms of clinical depression (23.1% versus 13.5%, ), and anxiety related to trauma (16.5% versus 9.4%, ). Results suggest that identifying DC mothers is a rapid approach to enable clinicians to target a subgroup of women needing special attention.