Archives of Hellenic Medicine
Volume 35, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 74-80

The experience of providing midwifery-gynecological care to refugees and immigrants in a public maternity hospital in Athens (Article)

Dritsakou K.* , Kampra A. , Gialelis I. , Kanakakis S. , Glynou E. , Varla-Lefterioti M. , Makris T. , Vezyrakis D.
  • a Departments of Quality Control, Research and Continuing Education, “Helena Venizelou” General and Maternity District HospitalAthens, Greece
  • b Hospital Administration, “Helena Venizelou” General and Maternity District HospitalAthens, Greece
  • c Midwifery-Gynecological Clinics, “Helena Venizelou” General and Maternity District HospitalAthens, Greece
  • d Midwifery-Gynecological Clinics, “Helena Venizelou” General and Maternity District HospitalAthens, Greece
  • e Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention and Control Committee, “Helena Venizelou” General and Maternity District HospitalAthens, Greece
  • f Medical Administration, “Helena Venizelou” General and Maternity District HospitalAthens, Greece
  • g Scientific Council, “Helena Venizelou” General and Maternity District HospitalAthens, Greece
  • h Hospital Administration, “Helena Venizelou” General and Maternity District HospitalAthens, Greece

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Τo investigate the special characteristics of provision of midwifery-gynecological care to refugees and immigrants. METHOD In the period from March 11th to December 31st, 2016, 408 refugee and immigrant women were provided with midwifery and gynecological care at the “Helena Venizelou” Hospital. The characteristics of this study sample were recorded on a special questionnaire in the Emergency Department and the Outpatient Clinic of the hospital. RESULTS Of the 408 women, 30% of those who attended the regular outpatient clinics and 72.3% of those examined in the Emergency Department, received midwifery care. The rest received mainly gynecological care. The mean age of the women was 26.59±6.23 years old, and the mean number of their previous births was 1.88±1.46. The mean gestational age of the pregnant women at the time of the first visit in the hospital was 29.41±10.31 weeks. The most common reason for the first visit to the hospital was the need for a routine midwifery-gynecological examination in the outpatient clinic. During the study period the perinatal maternal and neonatal mortality rates were zero. CONCLUSIONS Health-care professionals need to familiarize themselves with the intercultural approach to the care of refugees and immigrants, and to be able to individualize the care provided depending on their country of origin, socio-political and cultural background, religion and their living conditions, with respect for the individual particularities of each woman. © Athens Medical Society.

Author Keywords

immigrants Pregnancy Refugees morbidity Mortality

Index Keywords

immigrant refugee human morbidity emergency ward religion gynecologic care rest female questionnaire outpatient department Article gynecological examination major clinical study adult midwife newborn mortality pregnant woman gestational age
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040983139&partnerID=40&md5=167ecedba01c13cbcded86bb6789907a
ISSN: 11053992
Original Language: Greek