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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 2/2016

01-04-2016 | Original Paper

“Can I Ask That?”: Perspectives on Perinatal Care After Resettlement Among Karen Refugee Women, Medical Providers, and Community-Based Doulas

Authors: Kate LaMancuso, Roberta E. Goldman, Melissa Nothnagle

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

This study characterized the perspectives of Karen refugee women in Buffalo, NY, their medical providers, and Karen interpreters/doulas on perinatal care for Karen women in resettlement. In-depth qualitative interviews with Karen women (14), Karen doulas/interpreters and key informants (8), and medical providers (6) were informed by the social contextual model and focused on women’s questions about and opinions of perinatal care in Buffalo and on providers’ experiences caring for Karen patients. Karen women expressed gratitude for and understanding of perinatal care in Buffalo, and providers described Karen patients as agreeable but shy. Karen doulas offered an alternative view that exposed women’s many questions and concerns, and described how doula training empowered them as patients’ advocates. Low self-efficacy, trauma histories, and cultural expectations may contribute to Karen women’s seeming agreeability. Doulas/interpreters possess insider knowledge of women’s concerns and facilitate communication between patients and the care team.
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Metadata
Title
“Can I Ask That?”: Perspectives on Perinatal Care After Resettlement Among Karen Refugee Women, Medical Providers, and Community-Based Doulas
Authors
Kate LaMancuso
Roberta E. Goldman
Melissa Nothnagle
Publication date
01-04-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0172-6

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