South Asian Women's Perspectives about Pregnancy Needs and Utilization of Canadian Prenatal Health Services

Abstract

Context: South Asians are the largest immigrant group in Ontario, Canada. They may express perceptions of pregnancy that differ from the dominant cultures influencing mainstream health care. Prenatal services are underutilized by immigrant women in part due to language barriers and issues of racism. Purpose: To explore and understand South Asian Canadian women's pregnancy needs and experiences in utilizing prenatal health services in Ottawa, Canada. Method: Ten women were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using content and thematic analysis following a descriptive exploratory qualitative approach. An anti-racist approach was used to gain insights about these women's perspectives on the use of prenatal health services. Results: All women expressed that their husbands provided support and nurturance. Female elders including mothers, South Asian neighbours, and friends played an important role in providing pregnancy information and support. Almost all participants were not aware of available community-based resources, including prenatal programs. Almost all women expressed that they were given different treatment, ignored by administrative staff and/or perceived that health care providers spent less time with them compared to other Canadians. Some health care providers did not understand and respect cultural and religious rituals. Conclusions: Providing information about the availability of community resources is a vital step. Exploring South Asian husband's perspectives, the potential use of internet resources and creating interpreter networks through Indo-Canadian organizations are recommended. The Canadian health care system needs to address barriers and racism encountered by South Asian women to provide culturally sensitive health care.