Emotional well‐being of Vietnamese immigrant women during the transition to motherhood: A descriptive cohort study

Abstract

This study investigated the health and well-being of Vietnamese foreign brides recently immigrated to southern Taiwan. Forty-four participants were recruited during pregnancy and 23 were followed-up at six weeks post-partum. Standardized measures completed during face-to-face interviews revealed high levels of life stress, poor general health, low social support, and difficulty caring for their infant amongst participants. Estimated prevalence of probable antenatal depression was 32%, and 26% for probable post-partum depression using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores of ≥ 13. Probable antenatal depression predicted postnatal depression. Pregnant immigrant women experienced a high level of difficult life circumstances and were significantly more likely to develop depressive symptoms after birth. Immigrant women with low social support during pregnancy were also more likely to report higher EPDS scores than well-supported women. Given these results, prevention and intervention activities are needed to promote maternal psychological well-being in disadvantaged women, especially immigrant brides.

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

“…The countries with the highest numbers of studies were Canada, 15 studies (Ballantyne et al 2013; Dennis et al 2004; Gagnon et al 2013; Ganann et al 2012; Lanes et al 2011; McDonald et al 2013; Mechakra-Tahiri et al 2007; Minde et al 2001; Miszkurka et al 2010; Peer et al 2013; Stewart et al 2008, 2012; Sword et al 2006; Van Lieshout et al 2011; Zelkowitz et al 2008); the USA, 14 studies (Balbierz et al 2014; Connelly et al 2013; Davila et al 2009; Diaz et al 2007; Elo and Culhane 2010; Fleuriet and Sunil 2014; Fortner et al 2011; Goyal et al 2006; Harrison and Sidebottom 2009; Heilemann et al 2004; Huang et al 2007; Luecken et al 2013; Valentine et al 2011; Yeung and Schwartz 1986); Australia, 7 studies (Bandyopadhyay et al 2010; Eastwood et al 2011; Milgrom et al 2008; Shafiei et al 2015; Small et al 2003; Tran et al 2002; Yelland et al 2010); and Taiwan, China, 6 studies (Chen et al 2013; Chen et al 2012; Chien et al 2012; Huang and Mathers 2008; Hung et al 2012; Tsao et al 2014). …”

“…Thirty-one studies were cross-sectional surveys (Abbott and Williams 2006; Balestrieri et al 2012; Ballantyne et al 2013; Chen et al 2012; Chien et al 2012; Choi et al 2012; Davila et al 2009; Dennis et al 2004; Eastwood et al 2011; Elo and Culhane 2010; Fisch et al 1997; Fleuriet and Sunil 2014; Ganann et al 2012; Glasser et al 2000; Goyal et al 2006; Harrison and Sidebottom 2009; Heilemann et al 2004; Huang and Mathers 2008; Hung et al 2012; Lanes et al 2011; Mechakra-Tahiri et al 2007; Minde et al 2001; Miszkurka et al 2010; Peer et al 2013; Ratcliff et al 2015; Shafiei et al 2015; Small et al 2003; Stewart et al 2008; Sword et al 2006; Yelland et al 2010; Yeung and Schwartz 1986), 20 were prospective cohorts (Bandyopadhyay et al 2010; Bjerke et al 2008; Chen et al 2013; Diaz et al 2007; Escribà-Agüir et al 2013; Fortner et al 2011; Gagnon et al 2013; Huang et al 2007; Jayaweera and Quigley 2010; Luecken et al 2013; McDonald et al 2013; Milgrom et al 2008; Rudman et al 2008; Stewart et al 2012; Tran et al 2002; Tsao et al 2014; Valentine et al 2011; Van Lieshout et al 2011; Yoshida et al 1997; Zelkowitz et al 2008) and two were randomized controlled trials (Balbierz et al 2014; Connelly et al 2013). …”

“…Fifty studies looked at depression alone (Abbott and Williams 2006; Balbierz et al 2014; Balestrieri et al 2012; Ballantyne et al 2013; Bandyopadhyay et al 2010; Bjerke et al 2008; Chen et al 2012, 2013; Chien et al 2012; Choi et al 2012; Connelly et al 2013; Davila et al 2009; Dennis et al 2004; Diaz et al 2007; Eastwood et al 2011; Elo and Culhane 2010; Escribà-Agüir et al 2013; Fisch et al 1997; Fleuriet and Sunil 2014; Fortner et al 2011; Ganann et al 2012; Glasser et al 2000; Goyal et al 2006; Harrison and Sidebottom 2009; Heilemann et al 2004; Huang and Mathers 2008; Huang et al 2007; Hung et al 2012; Jayaweera and Quigley 2010; Lanes et al 2011; Luecken et al 2013; McDonald et al 2013; Mechakra-Tahiri et al 2007; Milgrom et al 2008; Minde et al 2001; Miszkurka et al 2010; Peer et al 2013; Ratcliff et al 2015; Rudman et al 2008; Shafiei et al 2015; Small et al 2003; Stewart et al 2008, 2012; Sword et al 2006; Tran et al 2002; Tsao et al 2014; Valentine et al 2011; Van Lieshout et al 2011; Yoshida et al 1997; Zelkowitz et al 2008), one study depression and anxiety (Yelland et al 2010), one study depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Gagnon et al 2013) and one study looked at any DSM-III diagnosis (Yeung and Schwartz 1986). …”

“…Six studies measured mental disorder symptoms in both pregnancy and the postpartum period with data presented separately, at least two time-points (Diaz et al 2007; Heilemann et al 2004; McDonald et al 2013; Rudman et al 2008; Tsao et al 2014; Zelkowitz et al 2008). Three studies measured mental disorder symptoms combining women who were pregnant and in the postpartum period (Connelly et al 2013; Davila et al 2009; Tran et al 2002).…”

“…Only two studies (Yeung and Schwartz 1986; Yoshida et al 1997) scored low on risk of measurement bias, as they used a diagnostic instrument to measure mental disorder, whereas all the other studies used validated screening measures and scored medium. Six studies scored low on risk of selection bias (Connelly et al 2013; Ganann et al 2012; Harrison and Sidebottom 2009; Huang et al 2007; Jayaweera and Quigley 2010; Lanes et al 2011), 23 medium (Abbott and Williams 2006; Balbierz et al 2014; Balestrieri et al 2012; Ballantyne et al 2013; Bandyopadhyay et al 2010; Dennis et al 2004; Eastwood et al 2011; Elo and Culhane 2010; Escribà-Agüir et al 2013; Gagnon et al 2013; Glasser et al 2000; McDonald et al 2013; Mechakra-Tahiri et al 2007; Milgrom et al 2008; Miszkurka et al 2010; Rudman et al 2008; Small et al 2003; Stewart et al 2008, 2012; Sword et al 2006; Tran et al 2002; Van Lieshout et al 2011; Zelkowitz et al 2008) and 24 high (Bjerke et al 2008; Chen et al 2012, 2013; Chien et al 2012; Choi et al 2012; Davila et al 2009; Diaz et al 2007; Fisch et al 1997; Fleuriet and Sunil 2014; Fortner et al 2011; Goyal et al 2006; Heilemann et al 2004; Huang and Mathers 2008; Hung et al 2012; Luecken et al 2013; Minde et al 2001; Peer et al 2013; Ratcliff et al 2015; Shafiei et al 2015; Tsao et al 2014; Valentine et al 2011; Yelland et al 2010; Yeung and Schwartz 1986; Yoshida et al 1997). The main reasons for studies scoring high on selection bias were biased sampling techniques such as volunteer or convenience samples, only including one ethnic group, and exclusion of participants due to language spoken.…”