Birth
Volume 44, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 145-152

Cultural safety and belonging for refugee background women attending group pregnancy care: An Australian qualitative study (Article)

Riggs E.* , Muyeen S. , Brown S. , Dawson W. , Petschel P. , Tardiff W. , Norman F. , Vanpraag D. , Szwarc J. , Yelland J.
  • a Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia, General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • b Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • c Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia, General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • d Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • e Maternal and Child Health, Wyndham City Council, Werribee, VIC, Australia
  • f Maternal and Child Health, Wyndham City Council, Werribee, VIC, Australia, VICSEG New Futures, Coburg, VIC, Australia
  • g Department of Education and Training, State Government of Victoria, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • h Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • i Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, Brunswick, VIC, Australia
  • j Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia, General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

Abstract

Background: Refugee women experience higher incidence of childbirth complications and poor pregnancy outcomes. Resettled refugee women often face multiple barriers accessing pregnancy care and navigating health systems in high income countries. Methods: A community-based model of group pregnancy care for Karen women from Burma was co-designed by health services in consultation with Karen families in Melbourne, Australia. Focus groups were conducted with women who had participated to explore their experiences of using the program, and whether it had helped them feel prepared for childbirth and going home with a new baby. Results: Nineteen women (average time in Australia 4.3 years) participated in two focus groups. Women reported feeling empowered and confident through learning about pregnancy and childbirth in the group setting. The collective sharing of stories in the facilitated environment allowed women to feel prepared, confident and reassured, with the greatest benefits coming from storytelling with peers, and developing trusting relationships with a team of professionals, with whom women were able to communicate in their own language. Women also discussed the pivotal role of the bicultural worker in the multidisciplinary care team. Challenges in the hospital during labor and birth were reported and included lack of professional interpreters and a lack of privacy. Conclusion: Group pregnancy care has the potential to increase refugee background women's access to pregnancy care and information, sense of belonging, cultural safety using services, preparation for labor and birth, and care of a newborn. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author Keywords

Cultural safety group pregnancy care qualitative Refugee health equity

Index Keywords

information processing communication barrier Communication Barriers birth refugee prenatal care Australia health equity human Refugees Cultural Competency cultural competence qualitative research Young Adult Humans psychology female pregnancy adult Parturition Focus Groups
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85010208941&doi=10.1111%2fbirt.12272&partnerID=40&md5=0d40ca34fa0a1f3abbe381a0ed6be3eb
DOI: 10.1111/birt.12272
ISSN: 07307659
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English