gms | German Medical Science

6th International Conference of the German Society of Midwifery Science (DGHWi)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hebammenwissenschaft e. V.

28.07. - 29.07.2022, Winterthur, Schweiz

The contribution of birth preparation to the mental health of foreign-language immigrant women. A survey instrument for interpreted courses

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author Raquel Mühlheim - Berner Fachhochschule, Schweiz
  • Eva Soom Ammann - Berner Fachhochschule, Schweiz
  • Paola Origlia Ikhilor - Berner Fachhochschule, Schweiz

German Association of Midwifery Science. 6th International Conference of the German Association of Midwifery Science (DGHWi). Winterthur, Schweiz, 28.-29.07.2022. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2022. Doc22dghwiP10

doi: 10.3205/22dghwi26, urn:nbn:de:0183-22dghwi262

This is the English version of the article.
The German version can be found at: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/dghwi2022/22dghwi26.shtml

Published: July 28, 2022

© 2022 Mühlheim et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Outline

Text

Background: In high-income countries, migrant women speaking a foreign language have a high prevalence of mental health issues of 24–42% (vs. 10–20% in the native population). Interpreted antenatal classes can strengthen pregnant migrant women’s mental well-being. This population is underrepresented in research and not adequately served in practice. Satisfactory perinatal mental health survey instruments for migrant women that adequately address cultural and linguistic characteristics are lacking.

Aim/Research question: The aim of the present study was to develop an instrument to assess the contribution of interpreted antenatal classes to participants’ mental health. The Research question is: What kind of instrument is suitable to assess the contribution of interpreted antenatal classes to the mental health of migrant women speaking a foreign language in a culturally sensitive way?

Methods: Based on a qualitative exploratory design, in spring and fall 2020, aspects of perinatal mental health were assessed through deductive thematic analysis of 24 published studies and inductive thematic analysis of 12 semi-structured, interpreted interviews with mothers who had attended an interpreted antenatal class. Based on the identified stressors and resources, indicators of mental health were generated and a questionnaire was outlined, which was adapted after assessment of face validity by five experts in the fields of migration and obstetrics in a focus group discussion.

Results: Interpreted antenatal classes counteract the identified stressors by providing information about the health care system, childbirth, the postpartum period, and physical exercises to help them relax in the participants’ own language. Furthermore, women are given the opportunity to ask questions and receive adequate assistance. The identified stressors are: Challenges in the health care system, motherhood as something new, being alone, language barriers, somatic complaints, and stressful life events. The final result of this study is a questionnaire with 12 items and an ordinal scale for participants to tick off on the last day of the course before birth under oral translation by an interpreter.

Relevancy: A suitable survey instrument has the potential to demonstrate the effects of interpreted antenatal classes on migrant women’s perinatal mental health. Attending interpreted antenatal classes can strengthen the mental health of migrant women speaking a foreign language and contribute to their subjective well-being. Mental health assessments in obstetrics are a prerequisite for ensuring this population’s perinatal well-being by means of adequate preventive services.

Recommendations/Conclusion: Social relationships, somatic well-being, linguistic communication, and comprehensible health services are of utmost importance for the perinatal mental health of migrant women. All these topics can be addressed in interpreted antenatal classes. The developed instrument needs to be validated for content and piloted. In addition, the possibility to survey the mental health of this vulnerable population in the perinatal period is required. The present master’s thesis provides the theoretical and content-related foundations for this. Overall, care services can be adapted to the needs of migrant women speaking a foreign language and the perinatal mental health of the population can be ensured preventively.

Ethics and conflicts of interest: A vote on ethics was obtained. The research was financed by own resources. There are no conflicts of interest.