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Longitudinal Follow Up of Early Career Midwives: Insights Related to Racism Show the Need for Increased Commitment to Cultural Safety in Aboriginal Maternity Care

Author

Listed:
  • Rosalie D. Thackrah

    (Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia)

  • Jennifer Wood

    (Labour and Birth Suite, Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco 6008, Australia)

  • Sandra C. Thompson

    (Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia)

Abstract

Racism in health care undermines equitable service delivery, contributes to poorer health outcomes and has a detrimental effect on the Aboriginal workforce. In maternity care settings, Aboriginal women’s perceptions of discrimination are widespread, with the importance of cultural practices surrounding childbirth often not recognised. Efforts to build midwives’ cultural capabilities and address health disparities have seen Aboriginal content included in training programs but little is known about its application to clinical practice. This study reinterviewed midwives who had previously completed university midwifery training that aimed to increase understanding of Aboriginal people and cultural safety in health care. Participants were 14 non-Indigenous midwives and two Aboriginal midwives. Interviews explored the legacy of program initiatives on cultural capabilities and observations and experiences of racism in maternity care settings. Methods followed qualitative approaches for research rigour, with thematic analysis of transcribed interviews. Findings revealed the positive impact of well-designed content and placements, with non-Indigenous participants cognisant and responsive to casual racism but largely not recognising institutional racism. The Aboriginal midwives had experienced and were attuned to racism in all its guises and suggested initiatives to heighten awareness and dispel stereotypes. It is evident that greater attention must be paid to institutional racism in educational programs to increase its recognition and appropriate actions within health care settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosalie D. Thackrah & Jennifer Wood & Sandra C. Thompson, 2021. "Longitudinal Follow Up of Early Career Midwives: Insights Related to Racism Show the Need for Increased Commitment to Cultural Safety in Aboriginal Maternity Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:3:p:1276-:d:490512
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yin Paradies & Jehonathan Ben & Nida Denson & Amanuel Elias & Naomi Priest & Alex Pieterse & Arpana Gupta & Margaret Kelaher & Gilbert Gee, 2015. "Racism as a Determinant of Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-48, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Caroline Crossley & Marjorie Collett & Sandra C. Thompson, 2023. "Tracks to Postgraduate Rural Practice: Longitudinal Qualitative Follow-Up of Nursing Students Who Undertook a Rural Placement in Western Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Keera Laccos-Barrett & Angela Elisabeth Brown & Roianne West & Katherine Lorraine Baldock, 2022. "Are Australian Universities Perpetuating the Teaching of Racism in Their Undergraduate Nurses in Discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Courses? A Critical Race Document Analysis Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.

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