Language and cultural barriers of Asian migrants in accessing maternal care in Australia

Background: Being a migrant and a new mother in a new land creates many difficulties for migrant women. They have to face a new language, culture and healthcare systems. In addition, these women bring with them their own, often times very different, cultural beliefs and practices associated with childbirth, which are unfamiliar to health care professionals in their new land. Consequently, migrants may not get access to the health services that are available for them due to lack of language, information and differences in cultures.

Aim: To investigate the barriers encountered by Asian migrants living in rural Tasmania when accessing maternity care.

Method: A qualitative study was conducted to find the barriers encountered by Asian migrants living in rural Tasmania when accessing health care. Ten Asian women from diverse backgrounds were invited to participate in this study. A semi-structured interview with open-ended questions was conducted with each participant. Data gathered was analysed using NVivo.

Results: The findings reveal that Asian migrants in Tasmania have faced language and cultural barriers when dealing with the health care system. The study makes recommendations for policymakers and community organisations to overcome these barriers.