Towards transformative maternity care: Exploring equity-oriented maternity care for women of refugee backgrounds
This PhD study seeks to explore equity-oriented maternity care and the barriers and enablers to delivering equity-oriented care from the perspectives of women of refugee background of Muslim faith and maternity care providers living in regional and metropolitan Victoria, Australia
What is already known?
Women from refugee background communities are more frequently affected by poorer maternal health outcomes compared to non-refugee women, due in part, to inequities in access to maternity services. These inequities are complex and include language and communication barriers, and racism and discrimination, making it more difficult for women of refugee backgrounds to access maternity services. Moreover, current standard models of maternity care in Australia do not meet the needs, including cultural and religious needs, of women of refugee backgrounds, which has contributed to a lack of service utilisation and generally poor experiences of maternity care.
Key dimensions of equity-oriented health care
Browne, A.J., Varcoe, C., Ford-Gilboe, M., Wathen, N.C., et al. (2018). Disruption as opportunity: Impacts of an organizational health equity intervention in primary care clinics. International Journal for Equity in Health, 17(1), 1-16.
What this study adds
Equity-oriented healthcare is an approach to care that involves creating a safe and respectful environment for individuals attending healthcare services, whilst tailoring care to fit their needs, priorities and backgrounds. The delivery of equity-oriented healthcare in maternity services has the potential to improve experiences of maternity care and maternal health outcomes for refugee background women.
This qualitative study will utilise creative community-based participatory research methods together with traditional research methods to understand what women of refugee backgrounds living in different parts of Victoria want from equity-oriented maternity care, the barriers and enablers to delivering equity-oriented maternity care, and how maternity service providers can be better supported to deliver equity-oriented care.
What’s next?
A systematic review is underway and a qualitative study will be conducted in 2024 with women of refugee background of Muslim faith and maternity care service providers living in regional and metropolitan Victoria.
