Hamideh Bayrampour

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of British Columbia

Purpose We aimed to determine the incidence of mental health diagnoses and associated health and social risk factors among perinatal people in three different COVID-19 phases. Methods We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study using linked administrative datasets. We included persons with live, in-hospital births in Ontario, Canad...

Background Rates of perinatal depression and anxiety increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains unclear how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced risk perception and help-seeking behaviours among pregnant and postpartum individuals. Objectives To explore pregnant and postpartum individuals’ decision-making process about when and how to seek sup...

Background Infant health among newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has been understudied. We examined infant mortality and hospitalizations among infants diagnosed with NAS after birth. Methods All live births in British Columbia (BC), Canada, for fiscal years from 2004–2005 to 2019–2020, were included (N = 696,900). NAS was identifie...

Background In vitro fertilization (IVF) as a fertility treatment is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Racial/ethnic disparity in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in women who conceived by IVF is understudied. Objective To examine differences in the association between race/ethnicity and SMM between women who conceived spontaneously and th...

Introduction Prenatal education is associated with positive health behaviours, including optimal weight gain, attendance at prenatal care, acceptance of routine screening tests, smoking cessation, decreased alcohol consumption and breast feeding. Adoption of these behaviours has been associated with reduced rates of caesarean birth, preterm birth a...

Background Large-scale longitudinal studies with biological samples are needed to examine the associations between prenatal cannabis use and birth and developmental outcomes. Objectives The aim of this study was to understand the feasibility and acceptability of collecting umbilical cord tissue for the purpose of cannabis use testing in a communit...

Introduction Pregnant people have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease. They have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 infection control policies, which exacerbated conditions resulting in intimate partner violence, healthcare access, and mental health distress. This project examines the impact of accumulated individual health decisions...

Introduction: Pregnant people have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease. They have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 infection control policies, which exacerbated conditions resulting in intimate partner violence, healthcare access, and mental health distress. This project examines the impact of accumulated individual health decision...

Objective: Pregnancy-specific anxiety (PSA) is a distinct construct from general anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study was to develop, evaluate, and validate the Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety Tool (PSAT), to measure PSA and its severity. Methods: The study was carried out in 2 stages. Stage 1 involved item development and content and face...

Background: Most evidence on the impact of pandemic on perinatal population's experiences has reported such effects in a portion of the pandemic. Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand the postpartum people's experiences of and responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic during the first year and to identify their health care...

Objective: To explore the challenges that childbearing family medicine residents encounter during postgraduate training and to understand the available support systems. Design: Descriptive qualitative research study. Setting: British Columbia, Canada. Participants: Nine University of British Columbia family medicine residents who experienced...

Background The perinatal period is often characterized by specific fear, worry, and anxiety concerning the pregnancy and its outcomes, referred to as pregnancy-related anxiety. Pregnancy-related anxiety is uniquely associated with negative maternal and child health outcomes during pregnancy, at birth, and early childhood; as such, it is increasingl...

Background: Given the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty around the timing of its containment, understanding the experiences and responses of the perinatal population is essential for planning responsive maternity care both during and after the pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of pregnant people and their...

Objective There is limited evidence of the impact of cannabis legalization on the prevalence of cannabis use and use of other substances. The aim of this exploratory observational study was to compare rates of cannabis use, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and the use of any street drugs during the preconception period and in pregnancy in tw...

Background The aim of this retrospective population‐based cohort study was to determine whether the mode of delivery and maternal and neonatal outcomes differ between planned home VBAC (HBAC) and planned hospital VBAC. Methods All midwifery clients with at least one prior cesarean birth delivered between April 2000 and March 2017 (N = 4741; n = 41...

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of antidepressant discontinuation on the risk of relapse of depression during pregnancy. Data sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycInfo were searched from the inception of each database through March 2019 using keywords such as antidepressants, pregna...

Background Suboptimal weight gain during pregnancy is a potentially modifiable risk factor. We aimed to investigate the association between suboptimal gestational weight gain and severe adverse birth outcomes by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) categories, including obesity class I to III. Methods and findings We conducted a population-based st...

Objective: eHealth interventions have been shown to be effective in improving anxiety among the general population. Despite the effectiveness of eHealth interventions for perinatal depression, a recent review reported mixed results for perinatal anxiety. The review, however, was not focused on anxiety, and studies with various designs were include...

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among general and pregnant populations. Despite recommendations to abstain from cannabis use, its use is increasing during the perinatal period. In this integrative review, we aim to understand women's perspectives about the health aspects of perinatal cannabis use. The following databases were search...

Introduction Vulnerable pregnant women (e.g. women with low socio-economic status or recent immigrants) are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care or to attend perinatal education classes. CenteringPregnancy (CP) is a model of group prenatal care which combines assessment, education and support. This study aimed to assess patient experience...

Background: Given the prevalence of antenatal anxiety and its consistent associations with adverse pregnancy and child outcomes, early detection and management of anxiety are essential. Objective: The aim was to identify risk factors for anxiety among pregnant women by systematically reviewing original research. Methods: Cross-sectional, case-contr...

Background: poor perinatal mental health is linked to various adverse pregnancy and child outcomes. Despite having a holistic philosophy of care, similar to other maternity care settings, perinatal mental health issues often remain under-diagnosed and untreated in midwifery settings. Aim: to determine midwives' perceived barriers to the screenin...

Background Approaches to screening can influence the acceptance of and comfort with mental health screening. Qualitative evidence on pregnant women’s comfort with different screening approaches and disclosure of mental health concerns is scant. The purpose of this study was to understand women’s perspectives of different mental health screening app...

Objectives Introducing new programming into an existing setting may be challenging. Understanding how staff and clinicians who are not directly involved in program delivery view the program can help support program implementation. This study aimed to understand how peripheral staff and clinicians perceived a newly implemented Centering Pregnancy gr...

Objective: The evidence on trajectories of perinatal depression is mostly based on studies composed of women at high risk for poor mental health. Research on maternal anxiety trajectories is also scarce. Using a large community cohort, the All Our Babies study, in Alberta, Canada, we examined trajectories of perinatal depressive and anxiety sympto...

Parents and non-parental adults who interact with children influence child development. This study evaluates the knowledge of child development in two large and diverse samples of adults from Alberta in 2007 and 2013. Telephone interviews were completed by two random samples (1,443 in 2007; 1,451 in 2013). Participants were asked when specific mile...

Objectives: Exposure to child abuse (CA) is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma and allergies; it is unknown if that risk is present across generations. This study investigated if 2-year-old children born to mothers with a history of CA were at an increased risk of receiving a diagnosis of asthma or allergies. Methods: Data fr...

Background: Understanding factors that protect against early developmental delay among children who are experiencing adversity can inform prevention and early intervention strategies. Aims: To identify risk factors for development delay at one year and protective factors for developmental delay in 'at risk' environments (poor maternal mental hea...

Active living is relevant for healthy child development and disease prevention. In 2011–2012 new Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines were developed for children under four and 5–17 years of age. This cross-sectional study assessed children's adherence to the national guidelines, using a large sample of Alberta children age...

The quantitative objective is to identify the effectiveness of novel or innovative interventions designed to improve access to and utilization of prenatal care. More specifically, the objective is to identify: The effectiveness of novel or innovative interventions designed to improve access to and utilization of prenatal care on the timing of the i...

To study the effects of mode of conception (spontaneous vs. assisted) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) throughout pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Secondary analysis of data from the All Our Babies cohort. Not applicable. A total of 243 women with assisted conception and 3,309 women with spontaneous conception. Short Form 12 (SF-12)...

Objective Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor health outcomes in adulthood. We developed ACE risk profiles using a domain-specific approach and examined ACEs as risk factors for diagnosed physical and mental health conditions. Method A computer-assisted telephone survey was conducted with a random sample of adults in Alber...

The effect of prenatal mental health on the risk of obstetric interventions is unclear. The present study examined the associations between depressive and anxiety symptoms in the second and third trimesters and mode of delivery, epidural use and labor induction in a large community-based pregnancy cohort, in Alberta, Canada. Women who had singleton...

chronic poor mental health over the course of pregnancy contributes to greater adverse maternal and child outcomes. Identifying women with chronic depressive or anxiety symptoms can provide opportunities to reduce distress and improve pregnancy outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine risk factors of chronic antenatal depressive and a...

Background Evidence to date suggests that a trajectory for better child outcomes may begin with parents’ knowledge of healthy habits for their children. Guidelines about preschool engagement in physical activity and screen time are posted on government websites and are accessible through community-based settings to inform parents. The relationship...

Background Adult knowledge of child development shapes their expectations and feedback to children as they learn and grow. Effective guidance of children by adults is influenced by their knowledge of child development. Study questions/aims (1) What is adult Albertans’ knowledge of developmental milestones from birth to 6-years in four developmental...

Background: Online support communities are popular in use by patients with cancer and their families for emotional, informational, and social support. Nonetheless, most research has focused on diagnoses other than lung cancer, indicating a need for studies to include more diverse participants and cancer conditions. Objective: Our aim was to desc...

The screening for anxiety in obstetric settings has been challenging due to time and knowledge constraints. Brief, valid, and reliable instruments can provide health care professionals with a quick and easy method to assess anxiety. Three six-item forms of the State Anxiety Inventory scale have been constructed. The purpose of this study was to eva...

Preterm birth constitutes a significant international public health issue, with implications for child and family well-being. High levels of psychosocial stress and negative affect before and during pregnancy are contributing factors to shortened gestation and preterm birth. We developed a cumulative psychosocial stress variable and examined its as...

To determine factors associated with perception of pregnancy risk using a conceptual framework based on a review of the relevant literature and the psychometric model of risk perception. A correlational study. Ambulatory care and antepartum units of two tertiary hospitals and selected obstetricians’ offices and prenatal classes in Winnipeg, Canada....

Background Advanced maternal age (AMA) is associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes, hence these pregnancies are considered to be “high risk.” A review of the empirical literature suggests that it is not clear how women of AMA evaluate their pregnancy risk. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the risk perception of pregnant w...

Introduction: Over the last 3 decades, the proportion of women who have delayed childbearing into their mid 30s and early 40s has been increasing. Because advanced maternal age (AMA) is associated with several adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes, these pregnancies are considered to be "high risk." Research indicates that pregnancy risk...

Our objectives were to determine whether migrant women in Western industrialized countries have higher odds of inadequate prenatal care (PNC) compared to receiving-country women and to summarize factors that are associated with inadequate PNC among migrant women in these countries. We conducted searches of electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and...

The rate of pregnancy at advanced maternal age (AMA) has increased during recent decades. The purpose of this study is to compare demographic and obstetric characteristics of Canadian primiparous women of AMA with those aged 20 to 29 years. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected through the national Maternity Experiences Survey (MES) o...

The increasing pregnancy rate at advanced maternal age is contemporaneous with the increasing rate of cesarean birth. Several studies have found that advanced maternal age is a risk factor for cesarean birth. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the relationship between advanced maternal age and cesarean birth among nulliparous and...