Home
Issues
Aim & Scope
Open Access
Editorial Board
Indexing
Supporting Midwifery Associations
Contact us
Manuscript Types
Manuscript Formatting
How to submit
Special publications and Reprints
Authorship & COI
Principles of Transparency Checklist
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Optimizing counseling on the first thousand days for women facing language barriers in midwifery practices in The Netherlands: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based pilot study
1
Academy of Midwifery Amsterdam Groningen, Bachelor of Midwifery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2
Academy of Midwifery Amsterdam Groningen, Bachelor of Midwifery, Groningen, Netherlands
3
Amsterdam University Medical Center, Midwifery Science, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A708
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Lifestyle during the first thousand days is essential for maternal and child health. Language barriers (LB) hinder the transfer of lifestyle information, placing women with LB and their children at increased risk of adverse outcomes.
OBJECTIVES:
This pilot study explores strategies to optimize midwives’ lifestyle counseling of mothers with LB, focusing on current practices, health literacy assessment (HLA) and best practices.
METHODS:
For this study Dutch primary care midwives filled in an online questionnaire based on the 5A-model (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) to assess counseling strategies and HLA skills, using a validated 8-item scale. Challenges and suggestions for improving a healthy lifestyle for clients with LB were reported. This study is approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Amsterdam University Medical Center; informed consent was obtained. No funding; no conflicts are declared.
RESULTS:
Of the 67 midwives, 18% reported that more than 25% of their clients experience LB. Commonly used tools to address these barriers were the interpreter telephone service (59.7%) and Google Translate (68.7%). Most midwives spent extra time during consultations with these clients (mean 17.4 minutes), although one-third reported addressing less information, particularly regarding physical activity, healthy weight and dietary patterns. One-third more often scheduled additional consultations for lifestyle support. Approaches, such as Group Care and making use of case managers, were recommended. Suggestions included providing additional prenatal guidance and referring clients to other healthcare providers. Midwives reported cultural differences as one of the challenges. No factors were associated with improved assessments of clients’ health literacy.
CONCLUSIONS:
Group Care, having a case-manager and using tools including the interpreter telephone service and Google Translate, appears effective in overcoming LB.
KEY MESSAGE:
Improving midwives’ skills in overcoming LB, effective use of available tools and enhanced cultural competence in prenatal care are essential. Poster session 2 (Group A)
Lifestyle during the first thousand days is essential for maternal and child health. Language barriers (LB) hinder the transfer of lifestyle information, placing women with LB and their children at increased risk of adverse outcomes.
OBJECTIVES:
This pilot study explores strategies to optimize midwives’ lifestyle counseling of mothers with LB, focusing on current practices, health literacy assessment (HLA) and best practices.
METHODS:
For this study Dutch primary care midwives filled in an online questionnaire based on the 5A-model (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) to assess counseling strategies and HLA skills, using a validated 8-item scale. Challenges and suggestions for improving a healthy lifestyle for clients with LB were reported. This study is approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Amsterdam University Medical Center; informed consent was obtained. No funding; no conflicts are declared.
RESULTS:
Of the 67 midwives, 18% reported that more than 25% of their clients experience LB. Commonly used tools to address these barriers were the interpreter telephone service (59.7%) and Google Translate (68.7%). Most midwives spent extra time during consultations with these clients (mean 17.4 minutes), although one-third reported addressing less information, particularly regarding physical activity, healthy weight and dietary patterns. One-third more often scheduled additional consultations for lifestyle support. Approaches, such as Group Care and making use of case managers, were recommended. Suggestions included providing additional prenatal guidance and referring clients to other healthcare providers. Midwives reported cultural differences as one of the challenges. No factors were associated with improved assessments of clients’ health literacy.
CONCLUSIONS:
Group Care, having a case-manager and using tools including the interpreter telephone service and Google Translate, appears effective in overcoming LB.
KEY MESSAGE:
Improving midwives’ skills in overcoming LB, effective use of available tools and enhanced cultural competence in prenatal care are essential. Poster session 2 (Group A)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
