OHSU-led study notes maternal mental health care disparities for low-income immigrants
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — New research calls attention to the differences in maternal mental health care for low-income immigrants in Oregon versus other states where expanded Medicaid coverage isn’t offered.
Oregon Health & Science University obstetrics and gynecology professor Maria Rodriguez co-authored the article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Tuesday.
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The study focuses on Medicaid, the public insurance program for low-income patients that covers 41% of births in the U.S.
In some cases, people aren’t eligible for Medicaid based on their citizenship status. And according to OHSU, Oregon is one of 18 states that offers expanded emergency coverage for prenatal and postnatal care.
South Carolina is one of many states that “only covers emergent conditions and hospital admissions”, and new research highlights how this lack of coverage heightens the disparity in mental health treatments for low-income immigrants.
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After examining almost 44,000 births given by emergency coverage recipients, researchers learned that expanded healthcare coverage led to more prenatal and postnatal detections and treatments for health conditions.
OHSU named depression, anxiety disorders and postpartum psychosis as the health conditions typically faced by people before and after carrying a baby. And for immigrants, the university said 46% to 60% of them experience postpartum depression.
According to researchers, early detection and effective treatments are essential to recovering after birth, but systemic and societal factors lead to obstacles for this particular demographic.
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“Our hope is that not only are immigrants able to access care, but that care can be delivered in a way that addresses the cultural, social and linguistic needs of patients, which increases patients’ openness to treatment,” Rodriguez, who also leads OHSU’s Center for Reproductive Health Equity, said. “No matter their background or immigration status, all parents deserve the support and care needed to be healthy when they are welcoming and caring for a new child.”
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