Understanding Depression Among Pregnant Aboriginal Women

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atmire.migration.oldid5518
dc.contributor.advisorThurston, Wilfreda Enid
dc.contributor.authorRoy, Amrita
dc.contributor.committeememberPatten, Scott
dc.contributor.committeememberTough, Suzanne
dc.contributor.committeememberCrowshoe, Lynden (Lindsay)
dc.contributor.committeememberBeran, Tanya
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-02T14:23:06Z
dc.date.available2017-05-02T14:23:06Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.date.submitted2017en
dc.description.abstractBackground: Prenatal depression is a significant maternal-child health concern. Research on depression among pregnant Aboriginal women is limited. Given the unique historical and present-day societal context involved, targeted research is warranted. Objectives: 1) To understand the risk factors, protective factors and societal context of prenatal depression in Aboriginal populations. 2) To examine accessibility and safety of clinical and social service systems used by pregnant Aboriginal women, and how they can be improved. Methods: A multi-methods, community-based approach was taken. A qualitative constructivist grounded theory study (Voices and PHACES) was conceived and conducted in Calgary, in partnership with local health and social services and with involvement of Aboriginal community members and Elders. The study involved personal interviews with pregnant Aboriginal women (n=13) and service-providing professionals (n=12), and focus-groups with stakeholders (n=11). Additionally, secondary analysis was conducted of data from the All Our Babies study, a large epidemiological cohort study of n=3354 pregnant women in Calgary. Key results: In this population, the individual-level risk factors commonly associated with depression (e.g., socioeconomic status, chronic life stress) appear to be mediators of the effects of more upstream, systemic factors related to historical and present-day societal context (e.g., racism, sexism, social exclusion, and intergenerational trauma from colonization). Substance abuse was found to be a common coping mechanism for stress, trauma and depression, indicating that mental health issues need to be addressed in order to effectively manage addictions. Social support and traditional Aboriginal healing practices appear protective, and thus may be key intervention strategies. While services in Calgary appear to be working well in certain ways, a need was identified for more culturally-appropriate services, better networking among agencies, as well as strategies to increase accessibility, reduce stigma, and enhance a safe and empowering healing environment for patients and clients. Significance: This dissertation contributes to a better understanding of the determinants of prenatal depression in Aboriginal women, and how the determinants may be addressed in health and social services. Moreover, it opens the door for further research on this important yet understudied topic, and also for the design of effective, evidence-based interventions targeted to this population’s needs.en_US
dc.identifier.citationRoy, A. (2017). Understanding Depression Among Pregnant Aboriginal Women (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/28560en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/28560
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/3801
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectEducation
dc.subjectHealth Sciences
dc.subjectEducation
dc.subjectEpidemiology
dc.subjectHealth Care Management
dc.subjectMental Health
dc.subjectObstetrics and Gynecology
dc.subjectPublic Health
dc.subject.otherAboriginal
dc.subject.otherIndigenous
dc.subject.otherWomen's Health
dc.subject.otherDepression
dc.subject.otherPregnancy
dc.subject.otherPublic health
dc.subject.otherHealth services
dc.subject.otherMental Health
dc.subject.otherStructural violence
dc.subject.otheroppression
dc.subject.otherrace
dc.subject.otherStress
dc.subject.otherSocial Support
dc.subject.otherCultural safety
dc.subject.otherEpidemiology
dc.subject.othergrounded theory
dc.subject.otherMulti-methods research
dc.subject.otherCommunity-based research
dc.subject.otherOCAP
dc.subject.otherColonization
dc.subject.otherIndian Residential Schools
dc.subject.otherIntergenerational trauma
dc.subject.otherGender
dc.subject.otherRacism
dc.subject.otherPrenatal health
dc.subject.otherMaternal-child health
dc.subject.otherSocial Exclusion
dc.titleUnderstanding Depression Among Pregnant Aboriginal Women
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineCommunity Health Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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