The effect of acculturation on low birthweight in immigrant women

The interpretation of variations in perinatal morbidity by immigration status has been difficult. Of particular concern is the lack of attention to adaptive capacity. This study explores the effect of acculturation on term low birthweight (LBW) in five ethnic groups representing different immigration experiences. Using Quebec birth certificates (1979-1988), two birth cohorts were defined to control for the effects of repeat pregnancies. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between acculturation and term LBW. In both birth cohorts the more acculturated women experienced significantly higher rates of term LBW. The odds ratio for term LBW (1.6) was also significantly higher for the more acculturated group but this effect was only observed in the second birth cohort. These findings imply that in addition to other conventional factors, the level of acculturation of the mother should be assessed in perinatal risk identification systems.

The Mental Health of Refugee Children in Canada

This paper reviews the literature on sources of stress, and the personal and social resources refugee youth use to cope with adversity. Preliminary findings from the Clarke Institute/University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry Southeast Asian (SEA) Refugee Youth Project, a study of the mental health and adaptation of SEA youth to Canada, are used to supplement findings from the literature. The review highlights research needs as well as possibilities for programs that could help promote the successful adaptation of refugee youth in Canada.

Immigrant and refugee children in Canada

In view of Canada's commitment to immigration, understanding the sources of successful adaptation by immigrant and refugee children is vital. This paper reviews the literature on the mental health of migrant children and suggests an agenda for future research.

The assessment of depression: a model for quality review of emergency psychiatry

Of 167 patients appearing in the psychiatric emergency room of a metropolitan hospital, 68 were categorized as significantly depressed by the Zung depression scale but only 43 were considered depressed by clinician-interviewers. The use of a patient self-rating scale, which in this setting permitted the identification of deficiencies in the recognition of depression, is applicable to quality review in a variety of clinical settings.