Breaking Down the Barriers
Improving access to maternity and child health services for marginalised women from black and minority ethnic communities, including asylum seekers and new migrants.
Module 1: Understanding migration
Immigration is a complex and sometimes emotive subject. Our views on immigration may be formed from personal or professional experience, from the media and from political debate. Terms are often used inaccurately and facts are often confused. In order to provide optimal maternity and child health services to migrants, it is important to have a broad understanding of the different types of immigration status and how these affect women’s ability to use the NHS and other public services.
Module 2: Maternal and child health of migrants
Some migrant communities experience poorer maternal and child health outcomes than UK born women, including low birthweight, premature birth, stillbirth, infant death, congenital abnormalities, severe maternal morbidity and maternal death. Migrant mothers are also at disproportionate risk of some conditions, diseases and practices that can affect them during pregnancy. However, migrant women and women from Black and minority ethnic communities are more likely than UK-born and White women to make beneficial health choices such as breastfeeding and avoiding smoking in pregnancy.
Click here to access Module 2: Maternal and child health of migrants
Module 3: Access to maternity services
Some migrant women and women from some Black and minority ethnic communities do not have good access to maternity services. They are more likely to book for care late and to miss appointments. This module explores some of the barriers to timely and sustained access to maternity care and how these may be overcome.
Module 4: Culture and maternity
Every culture has assumptions and expectations around pregnancy, birth and the care of children. This module explores the development of cultural competence so that we can deliver the best possible individualised care for all women.
Module 5: Overcoming language barriers
It is the health professional’s responsibility to ensure that he or she communicates effectively with a client, whatever the client’s ability to speak English. This module explores the issues around working with interpreters both professional and informal.
Module 6: Intercultural communication
Communication with someone from a different cultural background is about more than translating words. This module explores how we also use and interpret body language and conventions for speaking, listening and showing politeness, and how knowledge of these conventions can help us avoid misunderstandings with our clients.
Module 7: Migration and maternal mental health
Mental health disorders are understood and expressed differently in different cultures, but migrant women often experience the kinds of stressors that undermine normal coping mechanisms and may be at increased risk of experiencing depression in the antenatal and postnatal periods. This module explores how to apply the NICE guideline on the identification and treatment of antenatal and postnatal mental health problems when working with women from migrant communities.
Click here to access Module 7: Migration and maternal mental health
Module 8: Improving migrant women’s experiences of maternity services
The aim of this module is to draw together qualitative research on Black and minority ethnic women’s experiences of maternity services, so that you can hear the opinions of service users in their own words, both positive and negative. Reflecting on these experiences is a stepping stone to identifying ways in which your own service can improve.
Click here to access Module 8: Improving migrant women’s experiences of maternity services