The maternity experience of Black and Asian Women in Walsall

Healthwatch Walsall wanted to explore how Black and Asian women in Walsall truly feel during their maternity journey. They collected data using a survey and interviews.  They heard from 82 women.

Providing respectful, culturally competent care and open communication ensures well-being, addresses unique health risks, and fosters a supportive environment, which is essential for a positive birthing experience.  Whilst the majority of women had a positive experience, a minority raised concerns about misleading information, a lack of kindness from staff and frustration with the complaints process.

The key findings suggest that a partner, family member, friend involvement contributes to a sense of safety and positive birthing experiences.

While there were positive aspects of feeling safe and well-cared-for, there were also instances of communication challenges and delays that impacted the overall experience for some women.

Providing supportive services that enhance the ease and safety of a person's maternity journey is essential. Services should be welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for every patient. The research findings suggest there are some barriers around communication due to language differences.

The findings highlight positive aspects of cultural consideration and support during maternity journeys including; inclusive care and appreciation for cultural considerations, comments express positive experiences, with mentions of receiving food from ‘home’ or being given preferred cultural foods whilst on the ward.

Some women expressed concerns about being treated differently based on their ethnic background, while others assert that they have not faced any issues, emphasising everyone is treated the same. From comments received, there is uncertainty about whether observed differences in treatment are due to race, tiredness, or overwork.

Although the majority of women who answered yes to accessing mental health services said their needs were met, there were still some negative comments, showing there are areas for improvement or times when the service did not fully meet expectations.

People reported range of experiences, including positive staff interactions, communication challenges and instances where concerns were not adequately addressed. This suggests, again, a need for improved communication and a responsiveness to individual needs.

The report has eight recommendations about treatment and care, cultural competency and communication.