Health outcomes of Anglophones after pregnancy: differences in access compared with Francophones in Québec

In Québec, Anglophones are more likely to have pregnancy complications than Francophones. Our research has shown that Anglophones are at risk of outcomes such as preterm birth, stillbirth, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. These pregnancy complications have been associated with the onset of medical problems later in life, including mental illness and type 2 diabetes. This proposal aims to examine if Anglophone women are more likely to require care for mental illness and type 2 diabetes than Francophones in the long-term period after pregnancy.

During the previous funding cycle, we built a longitudinal cohort that allows us to study the long-term health of Anglophones after pregnancy. The cohort contains demographic and health information for all Anglophones and Francophones who were pregnant in Québec between 2006 and 2022. In the present study, we will examine two outcomes that led to hospitalization anytime after pregnancy: mental illness and type 2 diabetes. We will assess the association between maternal language and the risk of having a mental illness or diabetes admission up to 17 years after pregnancy, comparing Anglophones with Francophones. We will also study whether characteristics such as socioeconomic deprivation and education modify the long-term risk of each outcome. Our results will provide much needed information on the health of Anglophones in the years after pregnancy, and help identify groups that could benefit from better access to mental health and medical services.

Outcomes:

• Presentation of findings at the “Building Together 2026” conference organized by CHSSN.

• Presentation of the findings at the “Dialogue McGill 2026: Growing Capacity and Retaining Talent in Health Care and Social Services” conference.