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Journal of Primary Health Care Journal of Primary Health Care Society
Journal of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Antenatal depression symptoms in Pacific women: evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand

Frances McDaid 1 , Lisa Underwood 2 7 , Jacinta Fa’alili-Fidow 3 , Karen E. Waldie 4 , Elizabeth R. Peterson 4 , Amy Bird 5 , Stephanie D’Souza 6 , Susan Morton 2 3
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

1 Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand.

2 School of Population Health, University of Auckland, PO Box 18288, Auckland, 1743, New Zealand.

3 Centre for Longitudinal Research, University of Auckland, PO Box 18288, Auckland 1743, New Zealand.

4 School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.

5 School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, NSW 2522, Australia.

6 COMPASS Research Centre, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.

7 Corresponding author. Email: l.underwood@auckland.ac.nz

Journal of Primary Health Care 11(2) 96-108 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC18102
Published: 18 July 2019

Journal Compilation © Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners 2019.
This is an open access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pacific women in New Zealand (NZ) have higher rates of antenatal depression than women from other ethnic groups.

AIM: To identify factors that are significantly associated with depression symptoms in pregnant Pacific women living in NZ.

METHODS: Data were collected from 5657 pregnant women, 727 of whom identified their ethnicity as Pacific Island. Antenatal depression symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Depression Scale with scores above 12 indicating elevated antenatal depression symptoms (ADS).

RESULTS: Pacific women had significantly higher rates of ADS than non-Pacific women, with 23% of pregnant Pacific women experiencing ADS. Factors associated with ADS for Pacific women included age <25 years, moderate to severe nausea during pregnancy, perceived stress, family stress and relationship conflict. Not seeing the importance of maintaining one’s Pacific culture and traditions and negative feelings towards NZ culture were also significantly associated with ADS in Pacific women. One in three Pacific women aged <25 years experienced ADS. Pregnant Pacific women without a family general practitioner (GP) before their pregnancy were 4.5-fold more likely to experience ADS than non-Pacific women with a regular GP.

DISCUSSION: Further attention is required to providing appropriate primary health care for Pacific women of child-bearing age in NZ. Better screening processes and a greater understanding of effective antenatal support for Pacific women is recommended to respond to the multiple risk factors for antenatal depression among Pacific women.

KEYwords: Antenatal depression; Edinburgh Depression Scale; Pacific pregnant women; perinatal depression; primary healthcare


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