title: A cross-sectional analysis of perinatal depressive symptoms among Punjabi-speaking women: are they at risk?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is the leading cause of disability for childbearing women. We examined three specific research questions among Punjabi-speaking women residing in the Fraser Health Authority: 1) What are the prevalence rates of prenatal depressive symptoms? 2) Do Punjabi-speaking women have a higher likelihood of reporting depressive symptoms compared to English-speaking women after controlling for age, level of education and financial worries, and 3) Given the same level of exposure to level of education and financial worries, do Punjabi-speaking women have the same likelihood of reporting depressive symptoms?
  
  
  METHODS
  Data originated from the Fraser Health Authority prenatal registration database consisting of pregnant women (n = 9684) who completed a prenatal registration form between June 2009 and August 2010; 9.1 % indicated speaking Punjabi. The Whooley Depression Screen measured depressive symptoms. Chi-square tests and logistic multiple regression were used to examine the rates of reporting depressive symptoms among Punjabi-speaking women compared to English-speaking women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Punjabi-speaking women are at a higher risk for perinatal depressive symptoms. Women needing an interpreter were more likely to report prenatal depressive symptoms compared to English-speaking women. All registrants who reported financial worries had four and a half times the odds of reporting depressive symptoms. The impact of financial worries was significantly greater in the English-speaking women compared to the Punjabi-speaking women needing an interpreter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using an established screening device, Punjabi-speaking women were found to be at higher risk for prenatal depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Fraser Health Authority, Public Health Nurse, Newton Public Health Unit, #200 7337 137th Street, Surrey, BC, V3W 1A4, Canada. raman.sanghera2@fraserhealth.ca.
authors.forename: Raman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanghera
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia School of Nursing and Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, Co-Director of BC node of the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network, T201 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada. Sabrina.wong@nursing.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Sabrina T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia School of Nursing, T149-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada. Helen.brown@nursing.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007802:Language; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires