Page 161 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 161
Monoligual Health?
their husband, the wider family, ethnic community or external circum-
stances. Again, it is true that migrant women are an extremely vulnera-
ble social group, often facing double discrimination (as women and as
migrants), but they are also much more than that. They are active co-
creators of their lives. Their activity, ingenuity, adaptability and perse-
verance are evident from their life stories, which speak of leaving their
homeland, immigration to a new country and adaptation to a new, of-
ten completely different, cultural and social environment.
Findings
Communication and Language Barriers
(Successful) communication between the migrant woman and healthcare
staff is crucial and has a significant impact on their satisfaction with medi-
cal care, understanding of their own state of health, coping with pregnancy,
giving birth, postnatal care, as well as any illness, etc. It might also affect ad-
herence to the instructions of medical staff (in our case the instructions of
midwives, gynaecologists, community nurses, etc.) (Bofulin & Bešter, 2010).
In Slovenia, interpretation within the health system in the field of sexual and
reproductive health is not systematically regulated, even though language
barriers represent one of the central problems in ensuring quality reproduc-
tive healthcare for migrant women.
In the case of migrant women who do not speak Slovenian, it is crucial that
both they and gynaecologists, midwives, nurses and other health profession-
als speak English, Italian or Croatian/Serbo-Croatian/Serbian.
Language was never a problem, because at least doctors speak English;
when I started to speak a little Slovenian and explained, it was even
easier.
If a migrant woman does not speak Slovene, a person speaking the Slove-
nian language often assists with interpreting. This might be her husband, a
relative, a neighbour, a friend or an interpreter selected by the ethnic com-
munity (for example, the Albanian community in Koper and Izola).
When I come to the family, where they do not understand Slovenian, I
always ensure that there is someone there who understands; the firsts
visit especially are really important.
The husband can be present at the birth, he is translating; sometimes
they bring along an interpreter. If she is alone, we need to be ingenious,
159
their husband, the wider family, ethnic community or external circum-
stances. Again, it is true that migrant women are an extremely vulnera-
ble social group, often facing double discrimination (as women and as
migrants), but they are also much more than that. They are active co-
creators of their lives. Their activity, ingenuity, adaptability and perse-
verance are evident from their life stories, which speak of leaving their
homeland, immigration to a new country and adaptation to a new, of-
ten completely different, cultural and social environment.
Findings
Communication and Language Barriers
(Successful) communication between the migrant woman and healthcare
staff is crucial and has a significant impact on their satisfaction with medi-
cal care, understanding of their own state of health, coping with pregnancy,
giving birth, postnatal care, as well as any illness, etc. It might also affect ad-
herence to the instructions of medical staff (in our case the instructions of
midwives, gynaecologists, community nurses, etc.) (Bofulin & Bešter, 2010).
In Slovenia, interpretation within the health system in the field of sexual and
reproductive health is not systematically regulated, even though language
barriers represent one of the central problems in ensuring quality reproduc-
tive healthcare for migrant women.
In the case of migrant women who do not speak Slovenian, it is crucial that
both they and gynaecologists, midwives, nurses and other health profession-
als speak English, Italian or Croatian/Serbo-Croatian/Serbian.
Language was never a problem, because at least doctors speak English;
when I started to speak a little Slovenian and explained, it was even
easier.
If a migrant woman does not speak Slovene, a person speaking the Slove-
nian language often assists with interpreting. This might be her husband, a
relative, a neighbour, a friend or an interpreter selected by the ethnic com-
munity (for example, the Albanian community in Koper and Izola).
When I come to the family, where they do not understand Slovenian, I
always ensure that there is someone there who understands; the firsts
visit especially are really important.
The husband can be present at the birth, he is translating; sometimes
they bring along an interpreter. If she is alone, we need to be ingenious,
159
