@article{ref1,
title="The Influence of Prenatal Trauma, Stress, Social Support, and Years of Residency in the US on Postpartum Maternal Health Status Among Low-Income Latinas",
journal="Maternal and child health journal",
year="2011",
author="Sumner, Lekeisha A. and Valentine, Jeanette and Eisenman, David and Ahmed, Sirajuddin and Myers, Hector and Wyatt, Gail and Liu, Hangsheng and Zhang, Ming and Rodriguez, Michael A.",
volume="15",
number="7",
pages="1046-1054",
abstract="This study examined the associations of prenatal psychosocial factors, including depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, trauma exposure including intimate partner violence, perceived stress, and social support, with perceived postpartum health status. Low-income Latinas (N = 203) were recruited from two health plans within the first 12 weeks of their pregnancies and followed through 3 months after birth. Participants completed semi-structured interviews conducted in English or Spanish within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and again at 12 weeks postpartum. Perceived health status was measured by the SF-12. Participants with complete follow-up data (n = 193) were used in data analysis. Women were mostly foreign-born (75%) with low-incomes (59%) and reported postpartum health status in the average range (M = 102.5; SD = 12.2). Overall health status was positively associated with decreased levels of perceived stress (P < .0001), being foreign-born and having resided in the US <10 years (P = .003). Emotional well-being was positively linked with being foreign-born and having resided in the US <10 years (P = .002), increased levels of social support (P = .01), and decreased levels of perceived stress (P < .001). Exposure to non-specific IPV trauma (P = .01) and health problems experienced during pregnancy or delivery (P = .05) were negatively associated with physical health status. Prenatal psychosocial factors and length of residency in the US are differentially predictive of overall postpartum health status and emotional well-being, and have less impact on physical well-being after birth. Health professionals are encouraged to assess these factors in early pregnancy.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1092-7875",
doi="10.1007/s10995-010-0649-9",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0649-9"
}