Perspectives of women and partners from migrant and refugee backgrounds accessing the Cross Cultural Worker Service in maternity and early childhood services-a survey study

Helen J Rogers; Caroline S E Homer Ao; Amanda Henry

doi:10.1186/s12913-023-10194-3

Perspectives of women and partners from migrant and refugee backgrounds accessing the Cross Cultural Worker Service in maternity and early childhood services-a survey study

BMC Health Serv Res. 2023 Nov 10;23(1):1233. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-10194-3.

Authors

Helen J Rogers^{1

2}, Caroline S E Homer Ao^{3

4}, Amanda Henry^{5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Child, Youth & Family Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia. Helen.Rogers@health.nsw.gov.au.
² Discipline of Women's Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of NSW (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia. Helen.Rogers@health.nsw.gov.au.
³ Maternal and Child Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Vic, 3004, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Midwifery and Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney), Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
⁵ Discipline of Women's Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of NSW (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
⁶ Department of Women's and Children's Health, St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2217, Australia.
⁷ Australia Global Women's Health Program, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Women from migrant and refugee backgrounds living in high-income countries have increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and report lower satisfaction with perinatal healthcare. In Sydney, Australia, a new service known as the Cross Cultural Workers (CCWs) in Maternity and Child and Family Health Service (the CCW Service) was implemented to support such women and families from pregnancy to the early parenting period. This study aimed to ascertain the experiences of women and their partners engaging with the CCW Service.

Methods: A survey study was undertaken. Women accessing the CCW Service were recruited during pregnancy and were asked to complete surveys at three time points: in the third trimester of pregnancy, at 6 and 12 months postpartum. Their partners were invited to complete a survey at 6 months postpartum. Survey data were analysed to compare satisfaction, usefulness, number of CCW interactions, cultural sensitivity, and service improvement recommendations across all three survey timepoints.

Results: A total of 231 surveys were received: 113 during pregnancy, 50 at 6-months postpartum, 44 at 12-months postpartum, and 24 partner surveys. Participants in all surveys reported the CCW Service to be useful (84-94%), stating that it increased their understanding of pregnancy, birth and parenting (95-100%), and that they would recommend the CCW Service (92-98%). Participants experienced a high level of satisfaction (88-95%) irrespective of the number of CCW interactions (p = 0.42). Thoughts on becoming a mother or parent were more positive after meeting the CCW than before for both women (p = 0.01) and partners (p = 0.12). Suggestions for CCW Service improvement were to 1) increase the provision of information, specifically financial entitlements, postnatal depression, and support services, 2) increase involvement of partners in care, 3) increase the CCW workforce/or number of CCWs.

Conclusion: The CCW Service was associated with positive experiences and high rates of satisfaction at all timepoints. This service has the potential to inform the implementation of similar models of care that improve accessibility, the perinatal experience, and respond to the unique needs of women and families from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Keywords: Bicultural worker; Culturally responsive; Fathers; Health equity; Migrant; Navigation support; Parents; Partners; Perinatal; Refugee.

MeSH terms

Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Female
Humans
Parturition
Postpartum Period
Pregnancy
Qualitative Research
Refugees*
Transients and Migrants*