Maternal mental health in refugees and migrants: A comprehensive systematic review

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Abstract

The first years of motherhood are often difficult for women, requiring large emotional and biophysical adjustments and increased health risks that may combine with social disadvantage and psychosocial conditions towards decreased maternal wellbeing. Those outcomes are usually worse in vulnerable populations, as refugee and migrants. Comprehending mothers’ needs regarding mental health and psychological well-being must be prioritized. A systematic review using MEDLINE, EBSCO, and SCOPUS databases was carried out, searching for population-based studies published between 2012 and 2022 reporting on maternal mental health in displaced populations. A total of 2881 articles were retrieved; 35 publications met the inclusion criteria, being included in the final evaluation. Displaced women tend to be at higher risks of maternal mental distress, due to life stressors, isolation, intrapersonal and background characteristics, mental health stigma, discrimination, and barriers in accessing adequate healthcare. Refugee and asylum-seekers are at the most vulnerable positions. Postpartum depression is the most assessed condition regarding mental health but is manifestly insufficient for public health systems in assuring an adequate state of maternal well-being. Maternal mental healthcare must be patient-centered, more accessible, and available to both native and displaced mothers.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What Works to Improve Maternal Mental Health Outcomes for Refugees?

This evidence summary summarizes the state of available evidence on the impacts of interventions targeting the reduction of adverse mental health symptoms in expectant or new mothers. This summary includes interventions that are either directly impacting the mothers or aiming to increase rates of screening by medical providers.

About this study

AGE: Adults

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Paid

GENDER: Female

HOST COUNTRY: Multiple countries

OUTCOME AREA: Mental Health

POPULATION: Refugees

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Multiple Regions

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Strong

TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2024

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