Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Supervisor
Dr. Bin Xie
Second Advisor
Dr. Karen Campbell
Abstract
Seeking healthcare information can increase an individual’s health knowledge and improve self-care capabilities. Despite recognition that information may influence health behaviours, there is limited research on the explicit relationship between acquired pre- and postnatal health information levels and postpartum depression (PPD). Data for primiparous and multiparous subjects were analyzed from the 2006 Maternity Experiences Survey developed by Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The first objective examines pathways of women’s pre- and postnatal health information levels. The second objective assesses the influence of information levels on PPD development. A Multiple-Indicator Multiple- Cause (MIMIC) model was designed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as the outcome measure. Income and perceived level of prenatal and postnatal social support were statistically significant predictors of acquired information levels. Increased information levels on ‘postnatal concerns’, ‘medical concerns’, ‘negative feelings’ and Tabour/birth experience’ topics were significantly associated with lower EPDS scores.
Recommended Citation
Youash, Sabrina M., "PATHWAYS FOR WOMEN’S INFORMATION LEVELS REGARDING PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL HEALTH AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION" (2011). Digitized Theses. 3466.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3466