Childbirth Experiences among Southeast Asian Immigrant Wives in Taiwan: the Implication of Cultural Competence to Medical Education

Chun-Yu Lin ； Yen-Yuan Chen

《Journal of Medical Education》 19卷4期 (2015/12) Pp. 163-175

https://doi.org/10.6145/jme201515

並列摘要

Objectives: Southeast Asian immigrant wives face considerable challenges in their host countries. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the childbirth experiences and feelings of the Southeast Asian immigrant wives who were living in Taipei. Methods: Snowball sampling was employed in this study to recruit the Southeast Asian immigrant wives from several institutions which conducted literacy programs. An in-depth semi-structured interview was used to collect the data. Results: The majority of the research participants were living in three-generation or extended families. The immigrant wives' childbirth experiences included pressure not only from their Taiwanese family members, but also from the traditional culture that exists in Taiwan. The cultural differences between the immigrant wives' original countries and Taiwan imply that many of the women struggled with the expectations they faced with regard to continuing the family line, and the different beliefs about dietary practices after childbirth. The study found three main categories that emerged from the women's accounts of their childbirth experiences: the expectation of family continuity; son-preference' convention; and health beliefs and postpartum care. Conclusions: This study contributes to cultural competence in medical education by helping health care professionals to better understand the experiences of Southeast Asian immigrant wives' childbirth experiences. It is suggested that cultural sensitivity and the provision of appropriate care and support for health care professionals are important, and should be part of medical curriculum in undergraduate and post-graduate medical education.

並列關鍵字

female marriage immigrants ； cultural adaptation ； cultural competence ； qualitative research

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