Abstract
BACKGROUND. Migrant women are disproportionately affected by poor childbirth outcomes. The care women receive during labor and childbirth is an essential factor that influences women’s overall childbirth experience and outcomes. This qualitative descriptive interview study aimed to explore recently migrated newcomer women’s perceptions and experiences of childbirth care in Norway to gain insights into elements of childbirth satisfaction.
METHODS. A total of ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with newcomer women from eight different countries of origin. Six of the interviews were in person and four were online. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and a thematic approach was used for data analysis.
FINDINGS. The analysis of the participant interviews yielded a range of personal, relational and environmental determinants of childbirth satisfaction. Those determinants describe various elements that influence childbirth satisfaction on different levels, such as the women’s individual life stories, expectations and attitudes towards birth, the relational determinants of women’s interactions with their families, social networks and health care providers, and the elements of safety, comfort, pain management and the availability of the caregivers as part of the environmental determinants.
DISCUSSION. Women’s childbirth satisfaction is connected to their values, beliefs and expectations, as well as the maternal and infant health and well-being. Health inequities and unmet care and information needs arise due to differing expectations and experiences of care between migrant women and their healthcare providers.
CONCLUSION. Health system efforts should work towards ensuring culturally safe childbirth care for all women and establish and practice acceptance, respect and kindness with regards to difference. Healthcare providers can build rapport and mutual understanding with migrant women by inquiring about and recognizing their transnational, cultural, emotional and social ties.
KEYWORDS
migrant women, childbirth care, maternal health, childbirth satisfaction, transnationality, cultural safety