International migration to Canada: the post-birth health of mothers and infants by immigration class.

There are over 214 million international migrants worldwide, half of whom are women, and all of them assigned by the receiving country to an immigration class. Immigration classes are associated with certain health risks and regulatory restrictions related to eligibility for health care. Prior to this study, reports of international migrant post-birth health had not been compared between immigration classes, with the exception of our earlier, smaller study in which we found asylum-seekers to be at greatest risk for health concerns.

Cesarean section rate differences by migration indicators.

Purpose: To answer the question: are there differences in cesarean section rates among childbearing women in Canada according to selected migration indicators?

Methods: Secondary analyses of 3,500 low-risk women who had given birth between January 2003 and April 2004 in one of ten hospitals in the major Canadian migrant-receiving cities (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver) were conducted. Women were categorized as non-refugee immigrant, asylum seeker, refugee, or Canadian-born and by source country world region. Stratified analyses were performed.

Refugee and refugee-claimant women and infants post-birth: migration histories as a predictor of Canadian health system response to needs.

Background: Minority women from conflict-laden areas with limited host-country knowledge are among the most vulnerable migrants. Their risk status and that of their infants is magnified during pregnancy, birth, and post-birth. We conducted a study to determine whether women's postnatal health concerns were addressed by the Canadian health system differentially based on migration status (refugee, refugee-claimant, immigrant, and Canadian-born) or city of residence.

The childbearing health and related service needs of newcomers (CHARSNN) study protocol.

Background: Refugee and asylum-seeking women in Canada may have significant harmful childbearing health outcomes and unmet health and social care needs. The most vulnerable of these women are: those who have left their countries by force (e.g.