International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
Volume 13, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 302-308

Exploring the use of labor and delivery services by women of Haitian nationality in a Dominican Republic border town (Article)

Nelson A.K. , Fenwood M. , Burks C. , Widner A. , Bah A.B. , Ternier R. , Franke M.F.*
  • a Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • b Community Health Extension Program, Peace Corps, Santo-Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • c Partners in Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Socios en Salud/Partners in Health, Comendador, Dominican Republic
  • e Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
  • f Socios en Salud/Partners in Health, Comendador, Dominican Republic
  • g Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Purpose - Women of Haitian nationality comprise a sizeable proportion of all women seeking labor and delivery services in a public hospital in Dominican Republic (DR), along the central border of Haiti.The purpose of this paper is to better understand and address the needs of Haitian women receiving labor and delivery services in this border region.Design/methodology/approach - The authors conducted a mixed-methods study to identify personal motivations, demographic characteristics, and migration history of women seeking labor and delivery services at a public hospital.Findings - The majority of women (83 percent) were born in Haiti but spoke Spanish (74 percent) and were long-term residents of the DR (mean 7.8 years). While many women reported they felt they had a positive experience delivering at the public hospital, some described feeling unwelcome or resented.Research limitations/implications - The study sample was small and from one hospital. Future studies could explore the differences in experiences among Haitian women who are long-term residents of the DR and those whose presence is more transient.Practical implications - Women residing on both sides of the border would likely benefit from coordinated efforts by the Haitian and DR Ministries of Health to strengthen referral services to and from either country.Social implications - Hospital staff and services in the DR should consider the unique needs of this population, which makes critical contributions to workforce and culture in the DR.Originality/value - This study is the first to assess labor and delivery service seeking practices and experiences within this population. © 2017 Emerald Publishing Limited.

Author Keywords

Medical tourism Transients and migrants maternal health Haiti Dominican Republic

Index Keywords

medical tourism female patient referral maternal welfare public hospital resident Dominican Republic Haitian motivation human adult migration Haiti

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85029855605&doi=10.1108%2fIJMHSC-03-2016-0015&partnerID=40&md5=27c008d8d885dc0907d087e4c2ec5d34

DOI: 10.1108/IJMHSC-03-2016-0015
ISSN: 17479894
Original Language: English