Indigenous Women’s Stress and Postpartum Depression: Discussions from the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey and Indigenous Maternity Narratives

Abstract

This doctoral research highlights Indigenous women’s experiences of stress and postpartum depression (PPD) through secondary quantitative analysis of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey (2009) and qualitative Indigenous maternity narratives. Indigenous women’s responses to the survey demonstrate that Indigenous women experience 1.9 times higher odds of PPD and are 1.5 times as likely to be diagnosed with depression prior to pregnancy, compared to Canadian women. Indigenous women are also 1.3 times as likely to experience higher levels of stress and 3.3 times as likely to experience three or more stressful life events. While the survey demonstrates higher rates of stress and PPD, it is not culturally or contextually relevant. Therefore, Indigenous maternity narratives from 10 Indigenous mothers in 2015 further contextualize experiences of stress and PPD to include narratives related to adverse social determinants of health and impacts of colonialism. The research includes a discussion on the limitations of previous maternity research and the limits of clinical-medical assessments and diagnosis of stress and PPD in Indigenous populations. The research concludes with recommendations for additional maternity experiences research and ways to support Indigenous women, infants and children, birth partners, families, and communities.