Contraceptive Counselling for Immigrant Women Provided by Midwives in Sweden
Kolak, Mia LU
(2025)
In Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
- Abstract
- Background: Immigrant women in Sweden face unique challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive
health and rights (SRHR ) services, particularly in contraceptive counselling. Despite a well-established
system led by midwives, barriers related to cultural sensitivity, health literacy, and the healthcare
system's adaptability to diverse needs persist. Understanding immigrant women's perspectives on SRHR
services is essential to address these challenges and support reproductive autonomy, contributing to
Sweden’s commitments under Agenda 2030 and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to gain a better understanding of contraceptive counselling for
immigrant women provided by... (More) - Background: Immigrant women in Sweden face unique challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive
health and rights (SRHR ) services, particularly in contraceptive counselling. Despite a well-established
system led by midwives, barriers related to cultural sensitivity, health literacy, and the healthcare
system's adaptability to diverse needs persist. Understanding immigrant women's perspectives on SRHR
services is essential to address these challenges and support reproductive autonomy, contributing to
Sweden’s commitments under Agenda 2030 and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to gain a better understanding of contraceptive counselling for
immigrant women provided by midwives in Sweden, both from the provider and the user perspective.
Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with 10 midwives, 19 immigrant women and 21
accompanying partners. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 50 midwives. In all
papers the data was analysed using qualitative content analysis.
Results: The studies reveal that contraceptive counselling for immigrant women provided by midwives
in Sweden is shaped by factors such as limited health literacy, language barriers and unfamiliarity with
the healthcare system. Trust, cultural sensitivity, and the involvement of male partners emerged as
important elements. Midwives face challenges due to systemic limitations, including lack of resources,
language support and culturally adapted materials, which hinder their ability to meet diverse patient
needs.
Conclusion: Improving midwife-led contraceptive counselling for immigrant women requires a holistic
approach, addressing systemic barriers, enhancing health literacy support and acknowledging the role
of male partners. Providing midwives with adequate resources and training is essential for accessible
and effective SRHR services, supporting Sweden’s goals of Universal Health Coverage and gender
equality by fostering reproductive autonomy and reproductive justice for immigrant women. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3e72891e-917d-44f5-b044-50a12a325765
- author
- Kolak, Mia
LU
- supervisor
- opponent
-
- Professor Lindgren, Helena, Department of Health Sciences at Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Contraceptive counselling, immigrants, Swedish Model of Midwives, midwives, public health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality,
- in
- Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
- issue
- 2025:6
- pages
- 108 pages
- publisher
- Lund University, Faculty of Medicine
- defense location
- Agardh föreläsningssal, CRC, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, Skånes Universitetssjukhus i Malmö. Join by Zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/63383563978
- defense date
- 2025-02-14 13:00:00
- ISSN
- 1652-8220
- ISBN
- 978-91-8021-659-3
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3e72891e-917d-44f5-b044-50a12a325765
- date added to LUP
- 2025-01-22 23:13:47
- date last changed
- 2025-01-24 11:12:48
@phdthesis{3e72891e-917d-44f5-b044-50a12a325765,
abstract = {{Background: Immigrant women in Sweden face unique challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive<br/>health and rights (SRHR ) services, particularly in contraceptive counselling. Despite a well-established<br/>system led by midwives, barriers related to cultural sensitivity, health literacy, and the healthcare<br/>system's adaptability to diverse needs persist. Understanding immigrant women's perspectives on SRHR<br/>services is essential to address these challenges and support reproductive autonomy, contributing to<br/>Sweden’s commitments under Agenda 2030 and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).<br/>Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to gain a better understanding of contraceptive counselling for<br/>immigrant women provided by midwives in Sweden, both from the provider and the user perspective.<br/>Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with 10 midwives, 19 immigrant women and 21<br/>accompanying partners. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 50 midwives. In all<br/>papers the data was analysed using qualitative content analysis.<br/>Results: The studies reveal that contraceptive counselling for immigrant women provided by midwives<br/>in Sweden is shaped by factors such as limited health literacy, language barriers and unfamiliarity with<br/>the healthcare system. Trust, cultural sensitivity, and the involvement of male partners emerged as<br/>important elements. Midwives face challenges due to systemic limitations, including lack of resources,<br/>language support and culturally adapted materials, which hinder their ability to meet diverse patient<br/>needs.<br/>Conclusion: Improving midwife-led contraceptive counselling for immigrant women requires a holistic<br/>approach, addressing systemic barriers, enhancing health literacy support and acknowledging the role<br/>of male partners. Providing midwives with adequate resources and training is essential for accessible<br/>and effective SRHR services, supporting Sweden’s goals of Universal Health Coverage and gender<br/>equality by fostering reproductive autonomy and reproductive justice for immigrant women.}},
author = {{Kolak, Mia}},
isbn = {{978-91-8021-659-3}},
issn = {{1652-8220}},
keywords = {{Contraceptive counselling, immigrants, Swedish Model of Midwives, midwives, public health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality,}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2025:6}},
publisher = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine}},
school = {{Lund University}},
series = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
title = {{Contraceptive Counselling for Immigrant Women Provided by Midwives in Sweden}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/206696698/Contraceptive_Counselling_for_Immigrant_Women_Provided_by_MIdwives_in_Sweden_Mia_Kolak_Doctoral_Thesis.pdf}},
year = {{2025}},
}