Page 170 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 170
ana Medarić and Mateja Sedmak
Sometimes they seek gynaecologists who understand their language.
I have a feeling that they will not attend maternity school, I have the
feeling that any information she will want she would rather ask her
colleague, sister, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, anyone more
trusted. She knows she will get information there.
As previously mentioned, existing social contacts and social networks also
play an important role in communicating with healthcare professionals, as in
the case of a nurse visit at home after the birth.
Even if being involved in ethnic community can be a source of support to
migrant women, including with regard to the access to health services, it may
in some cases also present a restriction, in particular in terms of access to sex-
ual and reproductive care by migrant women at the institutional level. In the
following example, a healthcare worker sees the community as an inhibiting
factor for joining a maternity school.
They are very strong as a community and they will not attend classes
for future parents.
The migrant community can play an important role in providing assistance
to women – for example, directly after giving birth, when they get support
from other women, relatives or members of the ethnic community who help
to care for her and the child.
But they also like to help. I had, for example, one house, there were
three families in it, one in each room. They had a common kitchen, at
the same time there was a bunch of children – you did not know from
which door one came – but when she gave birth, all these girls helped
her. They took care of her children, they looked after her.
On the other hand, women who are not integrated in the community and
do not have additional help in the local environment can face social isolation
and distress.
It was difficult for me when I had my first son. It was only me and XXX
[husband, ZM] and XXX. She came to help, she is my husband’s col-
league. [. . .] In the Philippines everyone would help you, you call, they
come – neighbour, friend . . . here everyone is for themselves, you have
to pay someone to watch your child . . . when you go to give birth, for
example.
168
Sometimes they seek gynaecologists who understand their language.
I have a feeling that they will not attend maternity school, I have the
feeling that any information she will want she would rather ask her
colleague, sister, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, anyone more
trusted. She knows she will get information there.
As previously mentioned, existing social contacts and social networks also
play an important role in communicating with healthcare professionals, as in
the case of a nurse visit at home after the birth.
Even if being involved in ethnic community can be a source of support to
migrant women, including with regard to the access to health services, it may
in some cases also present a restriction, in particular in terms of access to sex-
ual and reproductive care by migrant women at the institutional level. In the
following example, a healthcare worker sees the community as an inhibiting
factor for joining a maternity school.
They are very strong as a community and they will not attend classes
for future parents.
The migrant community can play an important role in providing assistance
to women – for example, directly after giving birth, when they get support
from other women, relatives or members of the ethnic community who help
to care for her and the child.
But they also like to help. I had, for example, one house, there were
three families in it, one in each room. They had a common kitchen, at
the same time there was a bunch of children – you did not know from
which door one came – but when she gave birth, all these girls helped
her. They took care of her children, they looked after her.
On the other hand, women who are not integrated in the community and
do not have additional help in the local environment can face social isolation
and distress.
It was difficult for me when I had my first son. It was only me and XXX
[husband, ZM] and XXX. She came to help, she is my husband’s col-
league. [. . .] In the Philippines everyone would help you, you call, they
come – neighbour, friend . . . here everyone is for themselves, you have
to pay someone to watch your child . . . when you go to give birth, for
example.
168
