Perinatal health data for Haitians are scant. We evaluated adverse birth outcomes for Haitians in Quebec, Canada. We analyzed 2,124,909 live births from 1981 to 2006. Haitian ethnicity was assessed using maternal birth country (Haiti, other Caribbean country, other foreign country, Canada) and home language (Creole, French/English but Creole mother tongue, French/English, other). Associations between…
This study collaborated with the African Nova Scotian community to create the first African Canadian facial tissue depth database to help identify missing children. The relationships between tissue thickness, age, and sex were investigated, and comparisons were made with contemporary data for African Americans and White European Americans. Ultrasound technology was utilized to measure the…
Objective: The reported incidence rate of gonorrhea has more than doubled from 2000 to 2010 in Montreal, increasing in both sexes and all age groups; however, the increase was particularly high in females aged 15 to 24 years. As the reasons for this increase among young women are not fully understood, we wanted to determine…
According to a literature of theory and advocacy, immigration and resettlement jeopardize the mental health of children and youth, largely because of factors such as intergenerational tensions arising from conflicts about the retention of traditional values, and experiences of prejudice and discrimination. The current study examines the specificity of these putative mental health risks to…
In industrialized societies, a large number of studies have addressed the various patterns of adolescent transitions to adulthood. While most studies on migration have examined aspects of migrants’ integration into host societies, few researches, however, have dealt with the intersection of these two topics—the experiences and problems encountered by immigrant adolescents. This research focuses on…
Objective: To explore differences in severity and nature of symptoms of first-episode psychosis (FEP) according to ethnic group and migrant status. Method: We administered rating scales to assess positive and negative symptoms, as well as general psychopathology, to 301 consecutive patients presenting with an FEP within a defined catchment area in Montreal, Quebec, classified according…
Background: Visiting friends and relatives (VFRs), especially young VFRs, are increasingly recognized in the industrialized world as a high-risk group of travelers. Methods: We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional design study of cases of malaria, hepatitis A, and typhoid reported to the Quebec registry of notifiable diseases between January 2004 and December 2007, occurring in VFRs…
Background: The cultural practice of skin bleaching is highly prevalent in Africa. Most reported cases of toxic effects of skinlightening products occur in this region. Objective: To describe cases of misuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cosmetic skin-lightening products occurring in Canadian immigrants. Methods: Two cases of Canadian immigrants with severe complications from OTC skin-bleaching agents were…
