Submission ID 118590
| Issue/Objective | Refugee and immigrant women in Canada, especially those from the Somali community, face higher risks of postpartum depression (PPD) and other maternal health challenges. Despite the importance of prenatal and postnatal care, many Somali women struggle to access these services due to language barriers, cultural differences, and a lack of trust in the healthcare system. This review focused on two key questions: (1) What are the common maternal health outcomes for newcomer women in Canada? (2) What barriers do Somali refugee women face when trying to access maternal healthcare in Canada and the U.S.? |
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| Methodology/Approach | A systematic review was conducted using six databases: OVID Medline, EMBASE, EMCARE, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria focused on refugee and immigrant women experiencing pregnancy in Canada or the U.S., with special attention to the Somali diaspora. PRISMA guidelines were followed to screen, assess, and extract data. A total of 60 studies addressed maternal health outcomes, and 18 studies focused on barriers for Somali women. |
| Results | The review identified 12 maternal complications among newcomer women in Canada. Depressive symptomatology, including PPD, was the most frequently reported outcome, followed by preterm birth and gestational diabetes. Among Somali women, nine key barriers were identified: perceptions and fears such as mistrust of Western medicine and fear of cesarean sections, language challenges, cultural insensitivity, limited access to resources, complexity of the healthcare system, inadequate social support, stigma, financial barriers, and concerns about care quality. Lack of social support emerged as the most significant risk factor for PPD. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Findings highlight the need for targeted and culturally responsive interventions to improve maternal health outcomes and access to care for Somali refugee women. Recommendations include investing in culturally sensitive healthcare, hiring more female interpreters, enhancing provider training, and building trust through shared decision-making. These findings underscore broader inequities in maternal healthcare access for refugee populations and emphasize the need for policy reform to support equity, early screening, and culturally tailored mental health services. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Asiya Ali McMaster University Asiya Ali McMaster University |
