Reasons Why Cultural Awareness Matters in Maternity Care

When entering the maternity ward, it’s essential that you not only know and understand your patient’s cultural background and preferences, but that the nurses and other medical staff do as well. If you are a new medical professional entering the field, consider these reasons why cultural awareness matters in maternity care.

Family Structures

In many countries, men are still viewed as the head of the house. And in many cases, the husband, father, or another male relative can determine if a particular procedure will harm the image of the women in their lives.

When you are faced with these kinds of situations, you need to follow up by talking about the proposed surgeries and medical procedures in a different light. This is essential because in many cultures, the spouse or other male relative will want to ensure they know all their options before making any decisions that may go against their beliefs.

Spend time speaking with the patient’s spouse or another relative about their beliefs to accurately understand what medical procedures they believe will be most helpful.

Preference of Provider

There are other differences that patients may have, such as preferring one provider over another. When a patient comes from a more conservative background, they may prefer to have their medical provider be of a certain gender, and you need to respect their wishes if that is the case.

A patient might also be uncomfortable having men present during her maternal care appointments. To respect the patient’s wishes, try placing a curtain around the mother to give her privacy after she gives birth. Following the patient’s wishes enables them to develop more trust in you.

Additionally, if a scenario arises where your patient does prefer a female doctor, make sure that there’s someone available to help make the mother feel comfortable.

Faith and Culture

Faith and culture are fundamental to maternal care. Many patients may reject specific procedures, such as blood transfusions, even in dire emergencies due to their faith or cultural background. Many spouses with strong religious relationships enjoy a moment of privacy to pray with no one else in the room.

Every patient has different beliefs, and you need to respect the beliefs of each patient in order to provide quality care. For instance, some patients may prefer to speak privately with family members before moving forward with a medical decision.

This doesn’t mean your patient does not trust your judgment; it simply means they would like a private moment to connect with their loved ones. This may take the form of new parents who want to spend time with their newborn child away from others, including their doctors.

Taking care of prenatal patients means more than ensuring their vitals are good and that they feel comfortable. Ensuring that you respect their privacy is how you learn about patient dignity in prenatal care.

As you learn the reasons why cultural awareness is essential to maternal care, you start to build a better mindset and judgment when meeting patients of varying families. Start off on the right foot by inquiring about ways to spread awareness of cultural differences in prenatal care.