Pregnancy and Childbirth Experiences of Immigrant Women in a Multi-Cultural Family

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doi:2010.14.2.133

J Korean Soc Matern Child Health > Volume 14(2); 2010 > Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health 2010;14(2):133-144.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2010.14.2.133 Published online July 31, 2010.

Pregnancy and Childbirth Experiences of Immigrant Women in a Multi-Cultural Family

김경원

대구한의대학교

다문화 가정 이주여성의 임신과 출산 경험

김경원

대구한의대학교

Abstract

Objectives
This study aimed to explore experiences of pregnancy and childbirth of immigrant women in order to gain a deeper understanding of their individual experiences and the meaning that it hold for them.
Methods
A phenomenological approach used. Study participants were eight immigrant women aged 22~32 years who had experienced pregnancy and childbirth during the last 3 years in Korea. Data were collected by in-depth interviews. The method proposed by Colaizzi (1978) was used to guide the process of data analysis.
Results
Theme clusters which emerged from themes were: 'following the pregnancy progress', 'a hard life in a foreign country', 'missing her hometown', 'having difficulty in adapting to the culture', 'hoping to be a nice mother.'Conclusion: This study provides an understanding on pregnancy and childbirth experiences of immigrant women in a multi-cultural society. This study findings can be utilized for a nursing intervention for care of immigrant women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Key Words: pregnancy, parturition, women, life change events, cultural diversity