| Summary: | Introduction
Although high-quality postnatal care provides information and recognizes
women’s personal and cultural contexts, foreign-born women are more exposed to poor
health and adverse birth outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the length and
model of postnatal care, along with the content of care, between foreign-born and nativeborn
women living in Sweden. Another aim was to explore factors associated with being
very satisfied with various aspects of postnatal care.
Methods
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 483 postnatal women in two
Swedish hospitals in 2017. Women completed a questionnaire comprising background
data, pregnancy and birth related variables and the Early Postnatal Questionnaire. Data
were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and multivariate logistic
regression analyses.
Results
Foreign-born women were more likely to have a shorter ( 48
h) length of postnatal stay than women born in Sweden. No differences in birth outcomes
emerged between the two groups. Foreign-born women rated the medical (OR=1.77;
95% CI: 1.04–3.03) and emotional (OR=2.0; 95% CI: 1.17–3.40) aspects of postnatal
care as being more important than Swedish-born women did. The most important aspect
of overall satisfaction was the content of care, and the subscale Caring Relationship
(AOR=8.15; 95% CI: 4.87–14.62) outscored all other aspects.
Conclusions
Important factors of satisfactory experiences with postnatal care in a
Swedish context were receiving information, professional care, and a hospital environment
that facilitates recovery after labor and birth. Culturally sensitive and individualized
postnatal care with continuity should therefore be prioritized.
|
|---|