Speaker: Linda Sweet
Facilitator: Red Miller
Background: A migrant is a person who moves from one place to another, especially to find work or better living conditions. Some migrants come from refugee backgrounds with well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. From 2019 to 2021, over 47% of women who accessed maternity care through Western Health were born in a country other than Australia, with over 60 languages identified as their first language.
Aim: To explore the culturally specific maternity care experiences of migrant women and to consider ways to improve care.
Methods: Four focus group discussions were conducted with women of three language groups: Oromo, Dinka, and Arabic. The focus groups were co facilitated by the research team and a bi-cultural worker, with an interpreter in attendance. Discussions were audio recorded, professionally transcribed and thematically analysed.
Results: Thirty-one women participated. All had at least one pregnancy in Australia. Key themes included communication (and miscommunication), cultural misconceptions, racism, loss of culture, and desire for continuity of care. All the women found maternity care in Australia generally satisfying and respectful; however, they offered some tangible ideas for improvement.
Discussion: Addressing cultural misconceptions and combating racism within healthcare settings is imperative to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for migrant women. Effective communication, accommodating linguistic diversity, and cultural nuances need to be prioritised. This includes providing interpreter services when needed and employing culturally competent staff who understand the traditions, beliefs, and practices of diverse communities.
