An Intersection of Two Life Changes in Social-Science Research on Women's Health

Abstract

When the experiences of migration and becoming a mother intersect, the context and conditions of this have implications for the health of the women and their children. This article presents an overview of social-science research on health and pregnancy among migrant women and on the perinatal and postpartum care they receive. Research on 124 studies on this subject revealed that there are three main themes associated with maternal health in this context: (1) How women are defined and categorised as migrants: This is often based on a single indicator, country of origin or birth. This creates a simplified and homogenising category that then also serves as the basis for the use of more complex categories. (2) The significance of social support for families, especially with respect to informal care, and the fundamental role of language and language barriers in health care. The relationship between migrant women and health-care providers is impacted by cultural differences, which leave women in a vulnerable position. (3) Macro-sociological and epidemiological factors. These are discussed mainly from the perspective of the 'epidemiological paradox', which the authors here deem a rhetorical trick because it conceals the variableness of the findings obtained from perinatal health indicators. keywords: perinatal health, healthy immigrant effect, acculturation, migrant women, epidemiological paradox, health care

"It is better to treat a Vietnamese woman than a Czech": Strange interactions between healthcare professionals and women in the context of perinatal care

“…Various gestures, facial expressions, and signals replace verbal communication. This form often becomes the only tool of communication, because the majority of migrant women come without an interpreter (Pařízková et al, 2018). Some migrant women come with their husband or another family member.…”

Rekonceptualizace pojmu zranitelnosti a jeho užití coby analytického nástroje

“…Toader, Damir, Toader 2013). Koncept zranitelnosti se tak nepochybně dotýká oblasti zdraví a promítá se do systému zdravotní péče, a to jak na úrovni společen-ských struktur, tak i v oblasti mezilidských vztahů (Pařízková, Hrešanová, Glajchová 2018).…”