Page 134 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 134
ko Prosen, Sabina Ličen, Urška Bogataj, Doroteja Rebec, and Igor Karnjuš
tribute to positive health outcomes (Andrews & Boyle, 2012). The implications
for clinical practice derived from these findings point out to more intensive
attempts to further develop cross-cultural competencies among healthcare
professionals where, among other methods, transcultural education makes
a significant contribution (Prosen, 2018).
A consistent finding is that the language barrier and trouble commu-
nicating with healthcare professionals continue for almost every woman
interviewed, especially the new arrivals. Communication difficulties shape
women’s overall experience with a health system and directly negative im-
pact her care and constitute a key factor in delayed diagnosis (Hargreaves
& Friedland, 2013). Women migrants who do not speak the native language
and those from less affluent parts of the world are at increased risk of higher
maternal morbidity and mortality and poor perinatal outcomes (Smith et
al., 2016). For women coming from the former Yugoslav republics or women
from Russia or Ukraine with which we share the Slavic language group, the
Slovenian language sounded familiar, although women with an Albanian
background had great difficulties establishing understandable communi-
cation with healthcare professionals. Among the interviewees, especially
women from Kosovo who spoke Albanian expressed the need for an inter-
preter. This, of course, raises a few questions that deserve special attention
when discussing the use of interpreters in gynaecology and obstetrics set-
tings. The question of organising and financing such services should not be
overlooked, although the question is related to the fact that sexual and re-
productive health is still very much considered a societal taboo and under
the influence of cultural traditions and practices. Some women may there-
fore feel unable to freely discuss their sexual and reproductive needs, making
it harder for healthcare professionals to determine and provide appropriate
care (Mengesha, Perz, Dune, & Ussher, 2018). Professional interpreters are
needed, albeit proficiency in the native language is not enough by itself and
should also include, besides cultural knowledge, knowledge about privacy
and confidentiality issues, knowledge about the health system etc. It should
also be emphasised that effective communication between providers and
patients requires attention to be paid to the cultural dimensions of not only
verbal (or nonverbal) communication but also written communication, in-
cluding health education materials, information related to the treatment
plan and a patient’s diagnosis (Dreachslin et al., 2012).
When women started elaborating more about healthcare services and en-
counters with healthcare professionals in their home country in compari-
son to Slovenia, it emerged that they had faced many health disparities in
132
tribute to positive health outcomes (Andrews & Boyle, 2012). The implications
for clinical practice derived from these findings point out to more intensive
attempts to further develop cross-cultural competencies among healthcare
professionals where, among other methods, transcultural education makes
a significant contribution (Prosen, 2018).
A consistent finding is that the language barrier and trouble commu-
nicating with healthcare professionals continue for almost every woman
interviewed, especially the new arrivals. Communication difficulties shape
women’s overall experience with a health system and directly negative im-
pact her care and constitute a key factor in delayed diagnosis (Hargreaves
& Friedland, 2013). Women migrants who do not speak the native language
and those from less affluent parts of the world are at increased risk of higher
maternal morbidity and mortality and poor perinatal outcomes (Smith et
al., 2016). For women coming from the former Yugoslav republics or women
from Russia or Ukraine with which we share the Slavic language group, the
Slovenian language sounded familiar, although women with an Albanian
background had great difficulties establishing understandable communi-
cation with healthcare professionals. Among the interviewees, especially
women from Kosovo who spoke Albanian expressed the need for an inter-
preter. This, of course, raises a few questions that deserve special attention
when discussing the use of interpreters in gynaecology and obstetrics set-
tings. The question of organising and financing such services should not be
overlooked, although the question is related to the fact that sexual and re-
productive health is still very much considered a societal taboo and under
the influence of cultural traditions and practices. Some women may there-
fore feel unable to freely discuss their sexual and reproductive needs, making
it harder for healthcare professionals to determine and provide appropriate
care (Mengesha, Perz, Dune, & Ussher, 2018). Professional interpreters are
needed, albeit proficiency in the native language is not enough by itself and
should also include, besides cultural knowledge, knowledge about privacy
and confidentiality issues, knowledge about the health system etc. It should
also be emphasised that effective communication between providers and
patients requires attention to be paid to the cultural dimensions of not only
verbal (or nonverbal) communication but also written communication, in-
cluding health education materials, information related to the treatment
plan and a patient’s diagnosis (Dreachslin et al., 2012).
When women started elaborating more about healthcare services and en-
counters with healthcare professionals in their home country in compari-
son to Slovenia, it emerged that they had faced many health disparities in
132
