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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Improving birth outcomes and experiences: The impact of multicultural doulas for newly arrived migrant women in Norway
1
University of South-Eastern Norway, The Research Center for Women’s- Family and Child Health- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Buskerud, Norway
2
Sørlandet Hospital Kristiansand, Department of Research, Kristiansand, Norway
3
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Public Health and Nursing- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Trondheim, Norway
4
Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna, Sweden
5
Church City mission, Church City mission, Oslo, Norway
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A200
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Migrant women are at heightened risk for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes, underutilisation of health services, and unsatisfactory childbirth experiences compared to the general population. In response, Norway introduced a multicultural doula (MCD) program in 2018 to enhance maternity care for newly arrived migrants.
OBJECTIVES:
This study evaluates the impact of MCD support on obstetric and neonatal outcomes, healthcare utilisation, and childbirth experiences—focusing on perceived care quality and whether healthcare needs were met.
METHODS:
A multi-center case-control study was conducted across hospitals in four of Norway’s five health regions implementing the MCD program, 2018–2023. A total of 339 women who received MCD support were compared to matched migrant women who did not (n=339). Data was collected from hospital records. A total of 195 women returned the postpartum childbirth experience questionnaire—98 with MCD support, 95 without. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed.
RESULTS:
MCD-supported women had significantly lower rates of emergency cesarean sections (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.34–0.98), severe postpartum haemorrhage (≥1000 ml) (aOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.12–0.52), ambulance use (aOR 0.32, CI 0.17–0.58), and unplanned out-of-hospital births (aOR 0.05, CI 0.01–0.39). MCD support was associated with increased likelihood of attending hospital consultations for reduced fetal movement (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.19–2.82), using pain relief (aOR 2.88, 95% CI 1.93–4.30), and exclusive breastfeeding at discharge (aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.53–3.36). Women with MCD support reported significantly fewer unmet healthcare needs (aOR 0.18, 95% CI 0.09–0.36) and low quality of care (aOR 0.12, 95% CI 0.05–0.32).
CONCLUSIONS:
The MCD program appears to improve clinical outcomes and patient-reported experiences among newly arrived migrant women. These findings suggest that culturally adapted birth support can reduce disparities in maternity care and benefit maternal and child health.
KEY MESSAGE:
Culturally tailored doula support improves birth outcomes, healthcare use, and childbirth experiences among newly arrived migrant women—helping reduce disparities in maternity care. Marginalized - migrants
Migrant women are at heightened risk for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes, underutilisation of health services, and unsatisfactory childbirth experiences compared to the general population. In response, Norway introduced a multicultural doula (MCD) program in 2018 to enhance maternity care for newly arrived migrants.
OBJECTIVES:
This study evaluates the impact of MCD support on obstetric and neonatal outcomes, healthcare utilisation, and childbirth experiences—focusing on perceived care quality and whether healthcare needs were met.
METHODS:
A multi-center case-control study was conducted across hospitals in four of Norway’s five health regions implementing the MCD program, 2018–2023. A total of 339 women who received MCD support were compared to matched migrant women who did not (n=339). Data was collected from hospital records. A total of 195 women returned the postpartum childbirth experience questionnaire—98 with MCD support, 95 without. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed.
RESULTS:
MCD-supported women had significantly lower rates of emergency cesarean sections (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.34–0.98), severe postpartum haemorrhage (≥1000 ml) (aOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.12–0.52), ambulance use (aOR 0.32, CI 0.17–0.58), and unplanned out-of-hospital births (aOR 0.05, CI 0.01–0.39). MCD support was associated with increased likelihood of attending hospital consultations for reduced fetal movement (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.19–2.82), using pain relief (aOR 2.88, 95% CI 1.93–4.30), and exclusive breastfeeding at discharge (aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.53–3.36). Women with MCD support reported significantly fewer unmet healthcare needs (aOR 0.18, 95% CI 0.09–0.36) and low quality of care (aOR 0.12, 95% CI 0.05–0.32).
CONCLUSIONS:
The MCD program appears to improve clinical outcomes and patient-reported experiences among newly arrived migrant women. These findings suggest that culturally adapted birth support can reduce disparities in maternity care and benefit maternal and child health.
KEY MESSAGE:
Culturally tailored doula support improves birth outcomes, healthcare use, and childbirth experiences among newly arrived migrant women—helping reduce disparities in maternity care. Marginalized - migrants
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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