Foreign-Born Women's Experiences of Community-Based Doulas in Sweden—A Qualitative Study

Abstract

In this study our aim was to explore the experiences of doula support among foreign-born women in Sweden in the context of a “Community-Based Doula” (CBD) intervention project. We conducted interviews with 10 women and analyzed the data using content analysis. Participating women reported that, in addition to support during labor, doulas provided important information and continuity of care, which apparently increased their satisfaction with and trust in maternity health care. Training of CBDs, therefore, has implications for the delivery of equitable maternity care, which applies not only to Sweden and other European countries but wherever there are increasingly diverse populations.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants in this study; without their support it would not have been possible to undertake this research. The study was also supported by the Public Health Committee in the Västra Götaland region, and by The University of Skövde.