Elisha Riggs1,2, Jane Yelland1,2, Josef Szwarc3, Sayed Wahidi1, Sue Casey3, Donna Chesters3, Fatema Fouladi1, Philippa Duell-Piening3, Rebecca Giallo1, Stephanie Brown1,2,4. 1. Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Vic., Australia. 2. General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia. 3. Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, Brunswick, Vic., Australia. 4. School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fathers of refugee background are dealing with multiple, interrelated stressors associated with forced migration and establishing their lives in a new country. This has implications for the role of men in promoting the health and well-being of their families. METHODS: Afghan community researchers conducted interviews with 30 Afghan women and men who had recently had a baby in Australia. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with health professionals working with families of refugee background. RESULTS: Fourteen men, 16 women, and 34 health professionals participated. Afghan men reported playing a major role in supporting their wives during pregnancy and postnatal care, accompanying their wives to appointments, and providing language and transport support. Although men embraced these roles, they were rarely asked by health professionals about their own concerns related to their wife's pregnancy, or about their social circumstances. Perinatal health professionals queried whether it was their role to meet the needs of men. CONCLUSION: There are many challenges for families of refugee background navigating maternity services while dealing with the challenges of settlement. There is a need to move beyond a narrow conceptualization of antenatal and postnatal care to encompass a broader preventive and primary care approach to supporting refugee families through the period of pregnancy and early years of parenting. Pregnancy and postnatal care needs to be tailored to the social and psychological needs of families of refugee background, including men, and incorporate appropriate language support, in order to improve child and family health outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Fathers of refugee background are dealing with multiple, interrelated stressors associated with forced migration and establishing their lives in a new country. This has implications for the role of men in promoting the health and well-being of their families. METHODS: Afghan community researchers conducted interviews with 30 Afghan women and men who had recently had a baby in Australia. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with health professionals working with families of refugee background. RESULTS: Fourteen men, 16 women, and 34 health professionals participated. Afghan men reported playing a major role in supporting their wives during pregnancy and postnatal care, accompanying their wives to appointments, and providing language and transport support. Although men embraced these roles, they were rarely asked by health professionals about their own concerns related to their wife's pregnancy, or about their social circumstances. Perinatal health professionals queried whether it was their role to meet the needs of men. CONCLUSION: There are many challenges for families of refugee background navigating maternity services while dealing with the challenges of settlement. There is a need to move beyond a narrow conceptualization of antenatal and postnatal care to encompass a broader preventive and primary care approach to supporting refugee families through the period of pregnancy and early years of parenting. Pregnancy and postnatal care needs to be tailored to the social and psychological needs of families of refugee background, including men, and incorporate appropriate language support, in order to improve child and family health outcomes.
Authors: Eleanor Bulford; Alison Fogarty; Rebecca Giallo; Stephanie Brown; Josef Szwarc; Elisha Riggs Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-06 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Rebecca Giallo; Elisha Riggs; Claire Lynch; Dannielle Vanpraag; Jane Yelland; Josef Szwarc; Philippa Duell-Piening; Lauren Tyrell; Sue Casey; Stephanie Janne Brown Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-11-17 Impact factor: 2.692