Women with non-Swedish speaking background and their children: a longitudinal study of uptake of care and maternal and child health.
OBJECTIVE
To study uptake of care at the antenatal and child health clinic (CHC), and maternal and child health up to 5 years after the birth, as reported by mothers with a non-Swedish speaking background (NSB).


METHODS
A sample of 300 women with a NSB, 175 originated from a poor country and 125 originated from a rich country, were compared with a reference group of 2761 women with a Swedish speaking background. Four postal questionnaires were completed: during pregnancy, and 2 months, 1 year and 5 years after the birth.


RESULTS
Mothers with a NSB from a poor country of origin did not differ from the reference group of mothers with a Swedish speaking background regarding number of clinic visits, but they had a lower attendance rate at antenatal and postnatal education classes. Depressive symptoms, parental stress and poor self-rated health were more common in these women, and they reported more psychological and behavioral problems in their 5-year olds. Women with a rich country origin did not differ from the reference group regarding maternal and child health, but had a lower uptake of all out-patient care, except parental classes after the birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Women originating from a poor country seem to be under great stress during pregnancy and the child's first years.
Fabian
Helena
H
Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. helena.fabian@ki.se
Rådestad
Ingela
I
Rodriguez
Alina
A
Waldenström
Ulla
U
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008603:Mental Health; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult