Birth and Empowerment: A Qualitative Study of the Childbirth Experience of Filipino Migrant Women in Brisbane,Australia

Abstract

This project aims to understand and explore the notion of empowerment in relation to the childbirth experiences of Filipino women in Brisbane, Australia. Objectives include assessing the responsiveness of the health system to Filipino migrant women; exploring different cultural perspectives on childbirth; and assessing the understanding of the health rights of Filipinas in relation to child and maternal health services. The overwhelming majority of the women in the sample were found to have experienced problems with their childbirth. Most reported that these were due to discrimination, language difficulties, a lack of emotional and social support, marked cultural differences with respect to pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partal care of mother and child. They also reported a lack of knowledge and information about Australian maternal and child health care services. Despite successful clinical outcomes it is suggested that the notion of empowerment could provide insight into ways of improving the birth experience in order to ameliorate many of the problems typical of this group.

Keywords

Australia childbirth empowerment Filipinas health migrants women

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