Recognition of Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression in Refugee and Immigrant Women: Are Current Screening Practices Adequate?

Abstract

Currently little is known of postpartum depression (PPD) screening and referral for refugee and immigrant women in Northern New England where the foreign born population has been rapidly expanding in the past decade. Research on PPD has focused largely on the general population leaving a large gap in our understanding of PPD in this vulnerable group. A retrospective chart review was conducted from a tertiary medical center with 1,160 births per year. Total sample n = 126, 28 % scored at risk for PPD. 39 % of women at risk had follow up documented as a phone call alone, however 43 % of that at risk group did not speak English. Focuses on the suitability of tools that have not been psychometrically tested for this population and may be culturally inappropriate for non western women. Lack of appropriate follow up is challenged and who is best placed to perform screening is considered.

Detecting antepartum and postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms and disorders in immigrant women: A scoping review of the literature

“…Studies also found that accessing interpreters was not always possible (Thompson ; Tobin et al . ). In Tobin et al .…”

“…Tobin et al . () reported that if the tool is not self‐administered, it might influence scores, thereby influencing the accuracy of the tool. Tobin et al .…”

“…Tobin et al . () also addressed concerns that women who have little knowledge of PPD, and therefore, low health literacy, might have difficulty filling out the tool. Additionally, Stapleton et al .…”

“…The quantitative chart review study (Tobin et al . ) was assessed using the original EPHPP tool. The mixed‐methods study was assessed using a scoring system developed by Pluye et al .…”

Migrant women’s experiences, meanings and ways of dealing with postnatal depression: A meta-ethnographic study

“…We argue that the theme ‘ Making sense of my feelings ” articulates the multiple factors that challenge migrant women when they are becoming mothers in a new country. Contextual factors (no support from family and community, migration status, socioeconomic status, gender roles) explicated in this theme are risk factors for the development of PND symptoms in explanatory models of PND [49] and are also factors that mediate help seeking behaviours[50, 51]. Furthermore, the theme ‘ What I need to address my feelings ’, alerts us to the limitations of current health services in addressing women’s needs and identifies how this can be remedied.…”