Kelsey P Davis, Makayla Freeman, Pariza Fazal, Kristin A Reynolds, Charlie Rioux, Danielle L Beatty Moody, Beatrice Pui-Yee Lai, Gerald F Giesbrecht, Catherine Lebel, Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: Experiences of discrimination reported during pregnancy are common and are associated with poor mental health and adverse birth outcomes. No Canadian studies have investigated interpersonal discrimination during pregnancy. This study aimed to quantify and identify lived-experiences of discrimination in a Canadian cohort of pregnant individuals, and examine associations with concurrent prenatal anxiety and depression symptoms.
Methods: Pregnant individuals from the pan-Canadian Pregnancy During the Pandemic (PdP) study (n = 1943) completed the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS), demographic measures and self-report measures of depression and anxiety symptoms. Descriptive statistics and ANCOVA were used to assess prevalence of discrimination and associated mental health outcomes. Open-text responses (n = 189) to a question investigating reasons for discrimination were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
Results: Approximately three quarters (72%) of pregnant individuals experienced at least one instance of discrimination during their pregnancy or within the year prior. Pregnant individuals experiencing more frequent and/or more types of discrimination were more likely to identify as non-white, not be partnered, have lower socioeconomic status, and have a pre-pregnancy history of anxiety and depression. The most common attributions for interpersonal discrimination were gender, age, and education/income level. Pregnant individuals who experienced more frequent discrimination and/or more types of discrimination were more likely to report clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety (n = 623; 35.2% and 49.1%, respectively) compared to those who reported no discrimination (n = 539; 11.5% and 19.1%, respectively). Conventional content analysis of open-text responses generated the following main themes: (1) personal attributes and sociodemographic characteristics, (2) occupation, (3) the COVID-19 pandemic, (4) pregnancy and parenting, and (5) causes outside the self.
Conclusion: Frequent discrimination was associated with more adverse concurrent mental health symptoms. Understanding experiences of discrimination can inform interventions that better address the needs of pregnant individuals and their infants.
期刊介绍:
The Canadian Journal of Public Health is dedicated to fostering excellence in public health research, scholarship, policy and practice. The aim of the Journal is to advance public health research and practice in Canada and around the world, thus contributing to the improvement of the health of populations and the reduction of health inequalities.
CJPH publishes original research and scholarly articles submitted in either English or French that are relevant to population and public health.
CJPH is an independent, peer-reviewed journal owned by the Canadian Public Health Association and published by Springer.
Énoncé de mission
La Revue canadienne de santé publique se consacre à promouvoir l’excellence dans la recherche, les travaux d’érudition, les politiques et les pratiques de santé publique. Son but est de faire progresser la recherche et les pratiques de santé publique au Canada et dans le monde, contribuant ainsi à l’amélioration de la santé des populations et à la réduction des inégalités de santé.
La RCSP publie des articles savants et des travaux inédits, soumis en anglais ou en français, qui sont d’intérêt pour la santé publique et des populations.
La RCSP est une revue indépendante avec comité de lecture, propriété de l’Association canadienne de santé publique et publiée par Springer.