Pregnancy outcomes of Anglophones compared with Francophones in Québec

Research suggests that English-speaking women in Québec may face a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and stillbirth. However, less is known about whether they are also at greater risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, both of which can seriously affect the health of mothers and babies.

This project will examine whether English-speaking women in Québec are more likely than French-speaking women to experience gestational diabetes or preeclampsia during pregnancy. Researchers will analyze population-based health and birth data collected in Québec between 2008 and 2020 and will also examine how factors such as age, education, country of origin, and socioeconomic status may influence these risks.

The findings will help improve understanding of pregnancy health risks among English-speaking communities in Québec and may support the development of targeted obstetric care to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

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Outputs:

• Auger N, Ayoub A, Bilodeau-Bertrand M, Lafleur N, Wei SQ. Ethnocultural status and risk of preeclampsia in a Canadian setting. Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health. 2025;7;39:101202. doi:10.1016/j.preghy.2025.101202 . PMID: 39922025.

• Auger N, Bilodeau-Bertrand M, Ayoub A, Lafleur N, Wei SQ. Increasing risk of gestational diabetes in an ethnocultural minority of Canada. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2025;27(2):191-199. doi:10.1007/s10903-024-01667-6, PMID: 39824967.

• Presentation of the findings of work funded by Dialogue McGill (Auger N, Bilodeau-Bertrand M, Ayoub A, Lafleur N, Wei SQ. Risk of gestational diabetes in Anglophones and Francophones of Quebec) at the 91st Annual Acfas Congress (May 14th 2024).

• QUESCREN researcher portrait, highlighting our team’s research projects on the English-speaking community, published at: https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/ scpa/quescren/researchers/portr aits/Nathalie-Auger.html

Gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in Anglophones of Québec: dissemination of results through open access

Previous research suggests that Anglophones in Québec may face an increasing risk of adverse birth outcomes. Earlier analyses have shown that, compared with Francophones, Anglophones have a higher risk of stillbirth and preterm birth. To better understand the factors underlying these disparities, funding was awarded by Dialogue McGill in 2023 to support two complementary studies examining the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia among Anglophones versus Francophones. These conditions are significant pregnancy-related morbidities with important implications for maternal and infant health. The researchers plan to publish the findings from both studies in peer-reviewed open-access journals to ensure broad dissemination. In parallel, they are collaborating with knowledge user Marianne Bilodeau-Bertrand to translate the results into surveillance-related activities aimed at informing the Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Outputs:

Two manuscripts were published in peer reviewed journals:

1) Auger, N., Ayoub, A., Bilodeau-Bertrand, M., Lafleur, N., & Wei, S. Q. (2025). Ethnocultural status and risk of preeclampsia in a Canadian setting. Pregnancy Hypertension, 39, 101202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preghy.2025.101202

2) Auger, N., Bilodeau-Bertrand, M., Ayoub, A., Lafleur, N., & Wei, S. Q. (2025). Increasing risk of gestational diabetes in an ethnocultural minority of Canada. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 27(2), 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-024-01667-6.

Output recipients include members of the academic community as well as data and knowledge users at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec and Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec.