Postpartum depression The lived experiences of Middle Eastern Migrant women in Australia

Life with a new baby: How do immigrant and Australian‐born women's experiences compare?

“…[22][23][24] Other studies specifically focused on immigrant populations -particularly those unable to speak the dominant language of their new country -have also found an association between women's immigrant status and maternal depression: in the UK, 7 US, 6 Canada 5, 25,26 and Australia. 1,3,9,24,27 Factors found to be consistently associated with depression among immigrant women are similar to those for all women and include very low income, 28,29 maternal physical ill health and exhaustion, baby-related issues (ill-health, being unsettled or difficult); 1 isolation; marital difficulties or a nonsupportive partner; 2,24,[30][31][32] and previous psychiatric history, 33,34 although the latter accounts for only a small proportion of women experiencing depression after birth. Immigrant mothers' greater exposure to some of these risk factors -low income, social isolation and separation from family, friends and wider community networks -are all evident in this study and are likely contributors to the higher levels of probable depression found.…”

“…These can include being away from family and friends, from familiar surroundings and systems, from common language and culture. Few studies have explored the experiences of life with a new baby for immigrant women, and to date, what research has been undertaken has focused mainly on maternal depression, [1][2][3] with increased rates found in immigrant women of non-English-speaking backgrounds. 1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] However, very little else is known about the postpartum experiences of immigrant mothers.…”

Barriers Accessing Mental Health Services Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Immigrant Women in Australia: Policy Implications

“…Additional reported concerns included fear of consequences for the family and repercussions from the ethnic enclave, concern about deportation, fear of losing children, ignorance of legal rights and entitlement under Australian laws [17,24,27,[29][30][31].…”

“…Tears, prayers and friends' support are considered the ''natural way'' to address emotional issues in contrast to ''the unnatural'' method of seeking professional psychiatric assistance. Many Middle Eastern women had never heard of Post-Partum Depression (PPD) until they arrived in Australia [27].…”

Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: Clinical Implications

“…They did not have family or even neighbours who shared their beliefs, and they were expected to practice rituals but had no support to carry them out. In a separate study, Nahas et al 32 found Jordanian women in Australia with PPD who felt robbed of their traditional 40-day rest period with no family support readily available. In a study of the needs and experiences of Chinese migrant postpartum women in Brisbane, Australia, Chu 33 found that all believed and observed postpartum rituals to different degrees but immigration appeared to be a factor (that is, some women complained of culturally insensitive hospital practices and felt they could not express their concerns to staff).…”