Child Health Intervention & Longitudinal Development
Psychosocial distress during pregnancy and pathways to preterm birth: Building evidence in LMIC to guide targeted psychosocial interventions
This study measures biological responses to emotional distress in Pakistani women in some of the most extreme socio-economic and cultural conditions. We follow these women to birth to determine if their babies are born early, before 37 weeks, and examine targeted psychosocial intervention to be responsive to the mental health needs of Pakistani women. Not only will our results benefit women in LMIC, but findings can help clinicians and the health care system in Canada more effectively manage mental health of Pakistani immigrant women. Understanding of psychosocial pathways to preterm birth will inform future research around how psychosocial interventions reduce risk. (read more)