Midwives’ experiences of providing contraception counselling to immigrant women

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe midwives’ experiences of providing contraception counselling to immigrant women. MethodsThe study was conducted with a qualitative design, based on interviews followed by inductive content analysis. Ten midwives were interviewed, working at midwife-led prenatal clinics in immigrant-dense areas in southern Sweden. ResultsMidwives require knowledge and understanding of cultures and religions in order to provide contraception counselling to immigrant women. It is important for the midwives to be aware that women have different values regarding sexual and reproductive health. The challenge for the midwives is to understand and to be curious about every woman’s lifeworld perspective, culture and religion. The midwives knowledge and understanding of cultures and religions is acquired through experience and shared between them. Knowledge makes a midwife confident in her role as the contraception counselling provider to immigrant women. ConclusionCultural and religious factors affect contraception counselling. According to the midwives, knowledge and awareness of these factors is crucial and leads to improved understanding of midwives providing contraception counselling, better compliance, fewer unwanted pregnancies and improved sexual and reproductive health among women.