Assessing Maternal Healthcare Inequalities Among Migrants: A Qualitative Study

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Assessing Maternal Healthcare Inequalities Among Migrants: A Qualitative Study
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30(2) ARTIGO, 333-340 (2014)
This article examines access to healthcare services for pregnant migrant women. The authors conducted a study consisting of semi-structured interviews with 25 migrant women from Eastern Europe, Africa, Brazil, and Portugal. Participants were asked questions about their experiences with pregnancy and post-partum care, family planning and contraception, and any other particular barriers they faced. The authors identify barriers and hardships these migrant women faced in their pregnancies, including: language barriers, cultural differences, poverty, limited access to pre-natal care and healthcare facilities, and the daily stress of migrant life. The authors discuss the discrepancies in the experiences of women from different countries, and those with different socio-economic statuses and educational backgrounds. The article includes recommendations to better address the needs of pregnant migrant women and fostering stronger, more communicative relationships with these women over the course of their pregnancies.