Influence of Maternal Birthplace on Postpartum Health and Health Services Use

This study examined differences in health status, rates of postpartum depression, perceptions of health services, unmet service needs, and barriers to service use among women born in and outside of Canada at 6 weeks following postpartum discharge from hospital. A secondary analysis of data gathered for a longitudinal cross-sectional survey of postpartum health and service use was conducted. Data from participants recruited from two urban hospitals were used for this analysis (n = 1,045). Analyses examined differences between women born in and outside of Canada. Immigrant women were significantly more likely to experience fair/poor postpartum health status and risk for postpartum depression. Immigrant women were also more likely to rate community health services as fair/poor, and were less likely to be able to get care for emotional health problems. Postpartum health services need to be responsive and accessible in order to meet the needs of immigrant women.