Young Mothers Health Study

Dr. Ellen Lipman, P.I.Heather Whitty, Project Coordinator

1. What we know about young mother mental health?

2. The Young Mothers Health Study protocols3. Results to date

Agenda

Teen pregnancies account for 3.6% of pregnancies in Ontario and 4.7% in Hamilton

Young mothers are at risk of mental health problems (including depression, anxiety and substance dependence) and socioeconomic challenges

Children of young mothers are at risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, and display more behavioural problems, academic underachievement, substance abuse, involvement in crime and mental health problems later in life

1. What we know about young mother mental health?

Young mothers (N=450) invited to complete questionnaires about mental health, health and mental health service utilization and demographic information

2. The Young Mothers Health Study

• Target Sample (N=450)◦ 15-20 year old females◦ Pregnant with child (they

intend to carry to term) or recently gave birth to child (baby is no older than 24 months)

◦ Child does not have to be in care of mother

◦ Focus is Hamilton, but will accept moms from other nearby regions

◦ English speakers

Comparison Groups (N=~110 per group)◦ 15-20 year old non-

pregnant females◦ Pregnant with first child

or recently gave birth to first child AND over 21 years old

Who We Are Looking For

Recruitment Centres Young Parents Network

◦ Grace Haven◦ St. Martin’s Manor◦ Angela’s Place

Hamilton Public Health Services◦ Nurse-Family Partnership◦ Canadian Prenatal Nutrition

Program◦ Healthy Babies, Healthy

Children Hamilton Midwives,

Community Midwives, Access Midwives

LEAP

Hamilton Health Sciences ◦ Adolescent Medicine

St. Joe’s Hospital◦ Women & Infants’ Program◦ Women’s Health Concerns

Clinic Shelter Health Network The Living Rock Catholic Children’s Aid

Society Hamilton Regional Indian

Centre Hamilton-Wentworth

District School Board

Mothers are contacted 2-3 months after birth (for mothers recruited prenatally)

Mothers are contacted as soon as possible for mothers recruited postpartum

Interview takes about an hour Interviewer travels to participant at time

and place convenient to participant OR conducted through telephone interview

Data Collection

$45 gift card to young mothers $20 gift card to mature mothers and young

women

Gifts of Appreciation

Participants are assigned an identification code

No names will ever be published

Confidentiality

No anticipated risks with this project Benefits include information about

resources, opportunity to “tell their story” Long-term benefits include development of

appropriate, accessible mental health services

Risks and Benefits

Recruitment Participant Characteristics Selected Mental Health Problems Endorsed

by Participants Note: Study is currently in-progress,

therefore results are not final

3. Results to date

 Young Moms

N=140Mature Moms

N=52Young Women

N=32Age 15161718192021Mean (range)

34

263134411

18.5 (15-21)

N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A4

27.8 (21-38)

3117

1460

18.4 (15-20)High School Graduates

NoYes% of HS Grads

 9743

30.7%

 1

5198.0%

 1022

68.8%Highest education completeGrade 8

9101112Mean (range)

 

1113343943

Gr 10 (Gr 9-12)

 

0001

51Gr 12 (Gr 11-12)

 

0414

23Gr 12 (Gr 9-12)

Participant Characteristics

  Young MomsN=140

Mature MomsN=52

Young WomenN=32

Highest DegreeNo PostsecondaryTrade / DiplomaCommunity CollegeBachelor’sMaster’sPhDIn-progress diplomaIn-progress bachelor’s

 131

1200042

 111

15158101

 12000000

20

Income, PersonalMean (range) Don’t knowMissing

 11178

(0-62740)32

 28811

(1060-85000)02

 25560

(0-6963)10

Income, HouseholdMean (range) Don’t knowMissing

 30030

(384-212740)462

 65876.15

(13200-132428)92

 140750

(10172-308500)143

Participant Characteristics cont.

 

Young Moms

(n=140) n(%)

Mature Moms(n=52)

n(%)

Young Women(n=32)

n(%)       Major depressive episode, current

31 (22.1) 4 (7.7) 6 (18.8)

Major depressive episode, past

73 (52.1) 18 (34.6) 12 (37.5)

       Manic episode, current 11 (7.9) 1 (1.9) 1 (3.1)Manic episode, past 23 (16.4) 8 (15.4) 1 (3.1)       Hypomanic episode, past 44 (31.4) 12 (23.1) 12 (37.5)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, current

15 (10.7) 1 (1.9)* 2 (6.3)*data missing (n=1)

Selected Mental Health Problems Endorsed by Participants

 Young Moms

(n=140) n(%)

Mature Moms(n=52)

n(%)

Young Women(n=32)

n(%)

Panic disorder without Agoraphobia, current

1 (0.7) 1 (1.9) 1 (3.1)

Panic disorder with Agoraphobia, current

14 (10.0) 1 (1.9) 2 (6.3)

Agoraphobia, without history panic disorder current

69 (49.3) 8 (15.4) 6 (18.8)

       Separation Anxiety Disorder, current

19 (13.6) 0 1 (3.1)

       Social Phobia, current 30 (21.4) 5 (9.6) 6 (18.8)

Specific Phobia, current 48 (34.3) 11 (21.2) 6 (18.8)       OCD, current 34 (24.3) 9 (17.3) 6 (18.8)       PTSD, current 31 (22.1) 0 3 (9.4)

Selected Mental Health Problems Endorsed by Participants cont.

 

Young Moms

(n=140) n(%)

Mature Moms(n=52)

n(%)

Young Women(n=32)

n(%)

Alcohol Dependence, current 15 (10.7) 2 (3.8) 6 (18.8)Alcohol Abuse, current 8 (5.7) 0 0       Substance Dependence, current 17 (12.1) 2 (3.8) 5 (15.6)Substance Abuse, current 9 (6.4) 1 (1.9) 0       Tourette’s Disorder/motor current/vocal

0 0 0

Psychotic Disorder, lifetime 12 (8.6) 1 (1.9)* 0Psychotic Disorder, current 8 (5.7) 0* 1 (3.1)*data missing (n=1)

Selected Mental Health Problems Endorsed by Participants cont.

 

Young Moms

(n=140) n(%)

Mature Moms(n=52)

n(%)

Young Women(n=32)

n(%)       ADHD Combined, current 15 (10.7) 1 (1.9) 0ADHD Inattentive, current 6 (4.3) 1 (1.9) 0ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive, current

8 (5.7) 0 1 (3.1)

       Conduct Disorder, current 20 (14.3) 0 1 (3.1)       Oppositional Defiant Disorder 25 (17.9) 5 (9.6) 2 (6.3)

Average total disorders (range) 4.9 (0-15) 2.2 (0-10) 2.8 (0-9)Average current disorders (range)

3.4 (0-12) 1.1 (0-7) 1.8 (0-7)

Selected Mental Health Problems Endorsed by Participants cont

Young mothers participating in the study endorse multiple psychiatric disorders, and a range of disorders; comparison women endorse fewer disorders

Young mothers participating in the study are disadvantaged in terms of education and income

Discussion

1. Select young women (N=30) will be invited to participate in qualitative interviews to explore and understand their mental health service use

2. Select young women (N=50) will be invited to complete questionnaires about parenting and child development

3. Interview service providers and policy makers about the perceived service needs and adequacy of services for young mothers.

Future Substudies

We need more young moms to interview! Provide information about our study

◦ Display flyer in high traffic areas of your facility◦ Talk about the study, answer questions◦ Hand out study brochure

Use the Consent to be Contacted form ◦ Project coordinator will initiate contact with if you

collect participant contact information and fax form◦ Removes the onus of initiating contact from mother,

who can be busy and may overlook the brochure

How You Can Help

Dr. Ellen LipmanPrimary Investigator905-521-2100 ext. 77359lipmane@mcmaster.ca

Heather WhittyProject Coordinator905-521-2100ext. 74349Text: 905-869-4349Fax: 905-574-6665hwhitty@mcmaster.ca

Contact Information

Questions?