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. 2016 Jun 27:50:35.
doi: 10.1590/S1518-8787.2016050005617.

The impact of migration on women's mental health in the postpartum period

Lígia Moreira Almeida  1 , Cristina Costa-Santos  2 , José Peixoto Caldas  3 , Sónia Dias  4 , Diogo Ayres-de-Campos  5
Affiliations

The impact of migration on women's mental health in the postpartum period

Lígia Moreira Almeida et al. Rev Saude Publica. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To assess the influence of I mmigration on the psychological health of women after childbirth.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, immigrant and Portuguese-native women delivering in the four public hospitals of the metropolitan area of Porto, Portugal, were contacted by telephone between February and December 2012 during the first postpartum month to schedule a home visit and fill in a questionnaire. Most immigrant (76.1%) and Portuguese mothers (80.0%) agreed to participate and with the visits, thus a total of 89 immigrants and 188 Portuguese women were included in the study. The questionnaire included the application of four validated scales: Mental Health Inventory-5, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Scale of Satisfaction with Social Support. Statistical analysis included t-test and Chi-square or Fisher's test, and logistic regression models.

Results: Immigrants had an increased risk of postpartum depression (OR = 6.444, 95%CI 1.858-22.344), and of low satisfaction with social support (OR = 6.118, 95%CI 1.991-18.798). We did not perceive any associations between migrant state, perceived stress, and impoverished mental health.

Conclusions: Immigrant mothers have increased vulnerabilities in the postpartum period, resulting in an increased risk of postpartum depression and lesser satisfaction with the received social support.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência da imigração na saúde psicológica da mulher após o parto.

MÉTODOS: Neste estudo transversal, mulheres imigrantes e portuguesas com partos nos quatro hospitais públicos da região metropolitana de Porto, Portugal, foram contatadas por telefone entre fevereiro e dezembro de 2012, durante o primeiro mês pós-parto, para agendar uma visita domiciliar e preencher um questionário. A maioria das mães imigrantes (76,1%) e das mães portuguesas (80,0%) aceitou participar e aceder a visitas domiciliares, totalizando 89 imigrantes e 188 mulheres portuguesas incluídas no estudo. O questionário incluiu a aplicação de quatro escalas validadas: Inventário de Saúde Mental-5, Escala de Depressão Pós-parto de Edimburgo, Escala de Stress Percebido e Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social. As análises estatísticas incluíram os testes t-student, Qui-quadrado ou teste de Fisher e o cálculo de modelos de regressão logística.

RESULTADOS: As imigrantes tiveram risco aumentado de depressão pós-parto (OR 6,444; IC95% 1,858–22,344) e de baixa satisfação com o suporte social (OR = 6,118; IC95% 1,991–18,798). Não houve associação entre migração, stress percebido e saúde mental empobrecida.

CONCLUSÕES: Mães imigrantes apresentam vulnerabilidades aumentadas no período pós-parto, aumentando o risco de depressão pós-parto e havendo menor satisfação com o apoio social recebido.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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