Postpartum health, service needs, and access to care experiences of immigrant and Canadian-born women.
OBJECTIVE
To describe immigrant women's postpartum health, service needs, access to services, and service use during the first 4 weeks following hospital discharge compared to women born in Canada.


METHODS
Data were collected as part of a larger cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Women were recruited from 5 hospitals purposefully selected to provide a diverse sample.


METHODS
A sample of 1,250 women following vaginal delivery of a healthy infant; approximately 31% were born outside of Canada.


METHODS
Self-reported health status, postpartum depression, postpartum needs, access to services, service use.


RESULTS
Immigrant women were significantly more likely than Canadian-born women to have low family incomes, low social support, poorer health, possible postpartum depression, learning needs that were unmet in hospital, and a need for financial assistance. However, they were less likely to be able to get financial aid, household help, and reassurance/support. There were no differences between groups in ability to get care for health concerns.


CONCLUSIONS
Health care professionals should attend not only to the basic postpartum health needs of immigrant women but also to their income and support needs by ensuring effective interventions and referral mechanisms.
Sword
Wendy
W
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. sword@fhs.csu.mcmaster.ca
Watt
Susan
S
Krueger
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009864:Ontario; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000208:ethnology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires