Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 719-723

Migrant women's perceptions of healthcare during pregnancy and early motherhood: Addressing the social determinants of health (Article)

Almeida L.M.* , Casanova C. , Caldas J. , Ayres-De-Campos D. , Dias S.
  • a Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (ISPUP/FMUP), Rua das Taipas no 135, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal, Centre for Research and Intervention in Education, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (CIIE/FPCEUP), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal, Iberoamerican Observatory of Health and Citizenship (IOHC), Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
  • b Institute of Social Sciences, University of Minho (ICS-UM), Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
  • c Centre for Research and Intervention in Education, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (CIIE/FPCEUP), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal, Iberoamerican Observatory of Health and Citizenship (IOHC), Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
  • d Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School-University of Porto (FMUP), S. Joao Hospital Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
  • e CMDT, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT-UNL), Rua da Junqueira no 96, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

Recent guidelines from the World Health Organization emphasize the need to monitor the social determinants of health, with particular focus on the most vulnerable groups. With this in mind, we evaluated the access, use and perceived quality of care received by migrant women during pregnancy and early motherhood, in a large urban area in northern Portugal. We performed semi-structured interviews in 25 recent mothers, contacted through welfare institutions, who had immigrated from Eastern European countries, Brazil, or Portuguese-speaking African countries. Six native-Portuguese women of equal economic status were also interviewed for comparison. Misinformation about legal rights and inadequate clarification during medical appointments frequently interacted with social determinants, such as low social-economic status, unemployment, and poor living conditions, to result in lower perceived quality of healthcare. Special attention needs to be given to the most vulnerable populations in order to improve healthcare. Challenges reside not only in assuring access, but also in promoting equity in the quality of care. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Migration social determinants of health Maternal healthcare

Index Keywords

Vulnerable Populations vulnerable population Portugal human middle aged health service social determinants of health interview Humans Interviews as Topic female pregnancy adult migration health care quality Quality of Health Care utilization patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Transients and Migrants Maternal Health Services Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904399270&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9834-4&partnerID=40&md5=34e2c046f6df21ebea4a2a640f47fbbe
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9834-4
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English