Abstract Background Pregnant women who experience migration often have significant health problems because of difficulties in accessing health and social care in their host country. Language difficulties have reduced their ability to receive maternity care compared to native-born women. A cultural doula may enable safe and equitable maternity care for pregnant migrant women. The aim of this study was to explore antenatal care midwives’ experiences of caring for pregnant migrant women when offering them cultural doula support. Methods This study used a reflexive, qualitative, descriptive design. Pregnant migrant women in one of six healthcare regions in Sweden were offered cultural doula support for two to three meetings during pregnancy and two follow-up meetings after childbirth, but not during actual labour and birth. Interviews were conducted with 14 antenatal care midwives individually, in pairs, or in groups at six different antenatal care clinics in a Swedish university city. Data was analysed through reflexive thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke. Results The main theme that was explored, Antenatal care midwives emphasized the importance of having an open mind to cultural differences when caring for pregnant migrant women , was described through the three sub-themes: Midwives sincerely wanted to understand migrant women’s needs , which made midwifery practice both satisfying and challenging ; Migrant women were often reluctant to accept the midwives’ offer of cultural doula support ; and Midwives expressed a desire for better communication with the cultural doulas and more information about their responsibilities . Conclusions These findings suggest that antenatal care midwives may benefit from additional education in intercultural competence. The midwives also recommended that cultural doulas provide complementary support to ensure that pregnant migrant women receive equal care.
Johansson et al. (Tue,) studied this question.