Postnatal social support group needs and explanatory models of Iraqi Arabic speaking women in the year following the birth of their baby in Perth, Western Australia

Abstract

The aim of the current research was to explore the nature and type of support required in a postnatal support group intervention for Iraqi women. A further aim was to understand Iraqi Arabic speaking mothers’ explanatory models surrounding motherhood, relevant to the appropriate design of a culturally sensitive support group. The qualitative research involved semi structured interviewing from which data was extracted and categorised into relevant themes using an interpretative phenomenological approach (Smith, 1995). In depth interviews were conducted with 7 Iraqi Arabic speaking mothers. A number of major themes emerged, suggesting key aspects to include in a perinatal social support group for Iraqi women based on their explanatory model of their mental health. Themes included: significance of motherhood; physical and emotional difficulties confronted; postnatal health care experiences and negotiating motherhood in a new country; and receptivity to the provision of a support group intervention. Findings will be used to design and evaluate a perinatal social support group for Iraqi women and, potentially, provide a generic family model of intervention for mothers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in the year following the birth of their baby.