Migrant women's experiences of an individual language-assisted information and support visit to the labor ward before giving birth - A qualitative study from Sweden

Abstract

Background: Migrant women are less likely to receive an individualized maternal care where they feel safe, informed and supported but few measures have been undertaken to meet their needs. In Södertälje municipality in Sweden, community-based antenatal care midwives identify migrant women and offer them and their partners language-assisted information and support through an individual two-hour-visit to the labor ward. The aim of the present study was to explore migrant women's experiences of antenatal care including receiving language-assisted information and support during pregnancy through a two-hour INFOR-visit to the labor ward.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 non-Swedish speaking migrant women, using an interpreter. Interview analysis was conducted using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: The individualized support, including thorough information given with language support available, sufficient time for questions and discussion, and a caring approach - did appear to inform and reassure the women. Overall, they felt that they were seen and treated as individuals during both pregnancy and birth and that their specific needs were listened to and met by the health care providers. Having professional interpreters was seen as essential for receiving the right information, something achieved at the individual visit.

Conclusions: The findings from this study provide evidence that a two-hour-visit to the labor ward during pregnancy has potential to empower migrant women during pregnancy and birth and to improve their experiences of maternity care. The two-hour-visit is a relatively simple intervention with the potential of not only improving migrant women's experiences of pregnancy and birth, but also their medical outcomes.

Keywords: Birth; Language-assisted support; Migrant women; Pregnancy.