Transition to Motherhood as an Immigrant: Risks and Obstacles

Abstract

The process of transition to motherhood that brings along a number of vital changes may be full of risks and difficulties for immigrant mothers. Poverty, being unfamiliar with the language of the country that the mother migrated, inability of healthcare policies in covering healthcare expenses of immigrants, insufficiency of social assistance and loneliness may negatively affect health of mother and infant. Postpartum immigrant mothers are seen depression, anxiety, stress and social isolation because of these obstacles. Therefore, health care professionals, who provide care to immigrant mothers, should clarify immigrant mothers' religious, cultural beliefs and attitudes. Procurement of peer support is important by developing care programs special to immigrant mothers and ensuring immigrant women to come together. Increase in the number of translators in hospitals and prepara-tion of education materials in native language of mothers will improve the level of benefiting from healthcare services. 

Keywords

• Human migration,mental health,risk factors

Bir Göçmen Olarak Anneliğe Geçiş: Riskler ve Engeller

Öz

Pek çok yaşamsal değişikliği beraberinde getiren anneliğe geçiş süreci, göçmen anneler için engeller ve bu engellerin getirdiği risklerle dolu olabilmektedir. Fakirlik, göç edilen ülkenin dilini bilmemek, sağlık politikalarının göçmenlerin bakım giderlerini karşılar nitelikte olmaması, sosyal destek yetersiz-liği, kültürel uygulamaları gerçekleştirememe ve yalnızlık anne ve bebek sağlığını olumsuz yönde etkileyebilmektedir. Tüm bu engellerden dolayı doğum sonu göçmen annelerde depresyon, anksiyete, stres ve sosyal izolasyon görülmektedir. Bu nedenle, göçmen annelere bakım veren sağlık personeli göçmen annelerin dini, kültürel inanç ve tutumlarını açıklaştırmalıdır. Göçmen annelere özel bakım programlarının geliştirilmesi ve göçmen annelerin bir araya gelmeleri sağlanarak akran desteği sunulması önemlidir. Hastanelerde tercümanların sayısının yeterli düzeye getirilmesi ve annelerin kendi dillerinde yazılı eğitim materyallerinin hazırlanması sağlık hizmetlerinden yararlanma düzeyini artıracaktır. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• İnsan göçü,risk faktörleri,ruh sağlığı

Kaynakça

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