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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Jun;20(3):449-462.
doi: 10.1007/s00737-017-0723-z. Epub 2017 Apr 8.

Prevalence and risk of mental disorders in the perinatal period among migrant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fraser M Anderson  1 , Stephani L Hatch  2 , Carla Comacchio  3 , Louise M Howard  4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence and risk of mental disorders in the perinatal period among migrant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fraser M Anderson et al. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the prevalence and risk of mental disorders in the perinatal period among migrant women. Six databases (including MEDLINE) were searched from inception to October 19th, 2015, in addition to citation tracking. Studies were eligible if mental disorders were assessed with validated tools during pregnancy and up to 1 year postpartum among women born outside of the study country. Of 3241 abstracts screened, 53 met the inclusion criteria for the review. Only three studies investigated a mental disorder other than depression. Unadjusted odds ratios were pooled using random effects meta-analysis for elevated depression symptoms during pregnancy (n = 12) and the postpartum (n = 24), stratified by study country due to heterogeneity. Studies from Canada found an increased risk for antenatal (OR = 1.86, 95% CIs 1.32-2.62) and postnatal elevated depression symptoms (OR = 1.98, 95% CIs 1.57-2.49) associated with migrant status. Studies from the USA found a decreased risk of antenatal elevated depression symptoms (OR = 0.71, 95% CIs 0.51-0.99), and studies from the USA and Australia found no association between migrant status and postnatal elevated depression symptoms. Low social support, minority ethnicity, low socioeconomic status, lack of proficiency in host country language and refugee or asylum-seeking status all put migrant populations at increased risk of perinatal mental disorders.

Keywords: Antenatal depression; Asylum-seekers; Migrant women; Perinatal mental health; Postpartum depression; Refugees.

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Conflict of interest statement

Sources of financial and material support

FA receives a PhD studentship from, and SH receives salary support from, the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. LH holds an NIHR Research Professorship.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the study selection process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot of odds ratios for antenatal elevated depression symptoms associated with migrant status using random effects meta-analysis, stratified by study country
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot of odds ratios for postnatal elevated depression symptoms associated with migrant status using random effects meta-analysis, stratified by study country
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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