1. Promote reproductive health amongst migrants in a Swiss environment
CREATING NETWORKS
Promote reproductive health amongst migrants in a Swiss environment
Caterina Montagnoli, Midwife; Msc in Global Health Candidate, Geneva University
RATIONALE
Women are increasingly on the move: in Switzerland, almost a third (27.8%) of all women giving birth are of non‐Swiss nationality. In general, pregnancy outcomes have improved over the last 30 years thanks to integration policies. However, in some migrant and ethnic minority groups improvements in pregnancy outcomes have been less visible and significant gaps remain: one in three migrant women from low- and middle-income countries has symptoms of perinatal depression.
RESEARCH QUESTION
To assess the access to healthcare services and related experiences of women with a migrant background during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period and to find a key-path to create networks between the migrant population in need and the healthcare offer. The research question addressed was “What are the issues migrants encounter when accessing pregnancy related healthcare services in Geneva?”. Other identified objectives were to create a map of all services related with migrants social and health wellbeing and spread information amongst people in need.
PRIMARY RESULTS
Loneliness, communication and the importance to understand and be understood as well as coordination amongst all the initiatives that work to promote integration and improve migrants’ lives were the critical issues identified within the two different groups. Other identified problems were related to: permits to work, documents and difficulties with dealing with the Swiss authorities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic review of the relevant scientific literature was carried out. Two flyers in French, English and Arabic with visual maps of the key services dedicated to migrants in Geneva were created. One-to-one and focus groups with five ethnic species of migrant women and with social and healthcare professionals, such as midwives, gynecologists, physicians, social assistants, doulas, psychologists, cultural mediators, activists, volunteers and French professors, were conducted.
CONCLUSIONS
Even though some findings present a positive outlook, being aware of the need to communicate effectively in providing care is central to supporting women during labor, birth, pregnancy and post-partum period. Reproductive healthcare information should have no barriers in reaching the people in need. Internet, on the one hand a too vast source of information, on the other hand could offer a new targeted way to promote health behavior through smartphones’ apps. Being as of 2017 the number of swiss smartphone users 6.13 million, 75,84% of the entire population, a call for boosting communication vehicles and better coordination amongst the several organizations committed to migrants’ integration, by developing an app providing tailored information about the dedicated facilities could be a sustainable and effective solution. Furthermore this up-to-date and easily accessible solution could reach out everyone, going beyond barriers and creating a first online basis to build on relations.
Caterina Montagnoli has completed her Bachelor in Midwifery in 2014, Verona University and is now a Msc candidate for the Global Health programme at Geneva University. In 2017 she worked as midwife at Klinikum Großhadern Munich, Germany. Between March and July 2015, she worked as a volunteer Midwife at Hospital Regional Encarnacion, Paraguay. Between April and July 2016 as ICMHD intern, conducted a study to promote reproductive health amongst the female migrant population in Geneva, CH.
Presenting author details Full name: Caterina Montagnoli Contact number: Linked In account: Caterina Montagnoli