Cultural Background and Socioeconomic Influence of Immigrant and Refugee Women Coping with Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a serious condition that can have long lasting traumatic effects on women and their families. Until
recently postpartum depression research has focused more on the population as a whole rather than refugee and immigrant women.
Informed by Kleinman’s explanatory model and the postcolonial feminist perspective, 30 immigrant and refugee women were interviewed
to find out what factors influenced them in seeking postpartum care and what strategies would be helpful in prevention and
treatment of postpartum depression. We found that the immigrant and refugee women in our sample: (a) were influenced by both
cultural background and socioeconomic factors in seeking support and treatment; (b) were influenced by cultural differences
and social stigma when making decisions about health care practices; and (c) employed numerous coping strategies to deal with
postpartum depression. Recommendations are provided for more culturally appropriate and equitable mental health care services
for immigrant and refugee women living in Canada.