Healthcare providers’ perceptions of the challenges and opportunities to engage Chinese migrant women in contraceptive counselling: a qualitative interview study
Hankiz Dolan
A B H , Mu Li A , Deborah Bateson C D , Rachel Thompson A B , Chun Wah Michael Tam E F G , Carissa Bonner A B and Lyndal Trevena A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building, Fisher Road, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
B Ask, Share, Know: Rapid Evidence for General Practice Decision (ASK-GP), Centre for Research Excellence, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building, Fisher Road, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
C Family Planning NSW, 328–336 Liverpool Road, Ashfield, NSW 2131, Australia.
D Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, The University of Sydney, Medical Foundation Building, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
E Primary and Integrated Care Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, PO Box 215, NSW 2163, Australia.
F Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, 1 Campbell Street, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
G School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Samuels Building, Botany Road, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
H Corresponding author. Email: hekp5025@uni.sydney.edu.au
Sexual Health 17(5) 405-413 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH19215
Submitted: 26 November 2019 Accepted: 23 June 2020 Published: 1 October 2020
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2020 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
Background: In Australia, there are many culturally and linguistically diverse communities and Chinese migrants make up one of the largest. Yet, little is known about healthcare providers’ (HCPs) unique experiences in providing contraceptive care for Chinese migrant women. There is minimal research into the HCPs’ perceptions of challenges or opportunities in engaging Chinese migrant women in informed and shared decision-making processes during contraceptive counselling. The aim of this study is to explore HCPs’ experiences of providing contraceptive care for Chinese migrant women, their perceptions of women’s care needs when choosing contraceptive methods, as well as their own needs in supporting women’s decision-making. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 HCPs in Sydney, Australia who had substantial experience in providing contraceptive services to Chinese women who were recent migrants. Transcribed audio-recorded data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes were identified, including: ‘Are you using contraception?’: the case for being proactive and opportunistic; ‘Getting the message across’: barriers to communication; ‘Hormones are unnatural?’: women favouring non-hormonal methods; and ‘Word of mouth’: social influence on contraceptive method choice. Conclusions: In order to facilitate informed choice and shared decision-making with Chinese migrant women during contraceptive counselling, broader health system and community-level strategies are needed. Such strategies could include improving HCPs’ cultural competency in assessing and communicating women’s contraceptive needs; providing professional interpreting services and translated materials; and improving women’s health literacy, including their contraceptive knowledge and health system awareness.
Additional keywords: contraception, migrant and mobile populations.
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