Maternity Care for Migrant and Refugee Women

The care of women who migrate or seek refuge encompasses a broad array of clinical, social and structural considerations. Migrant and refugee women often experience adversity at every stage of the maternity continuum, from conception to postpartum. They face linguistic obstacles, unfamiliarity with health systems, legal and administrative hurdles, and discrimination, all of which can impede timely access to antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal services. Epidemiological studies reveal that these women are at increased risk of severe maternal morbidity and adverse neonatal outcomes in some settings, although findings vary by host country and region of origin. Equally important are the psychosocial dimensions: experiences of trauma, social isolation, and economic precarity interact with cultural expectations and previous birth experiences. Innovations in service delivery—such as culturally competent models, continuity of care through midwifery-led teams, and trauma-informed approaches—aim to mitigate these inequities. Collaborative strategies involving community organisations, professional interpreters and cross-sectoral partnerships have demonstrated promise in enhancing both clinical outcomes and women’s satisfaction with care. As migration flows continue to shape demographics in high- and low-income countries alike, it is imperative to align maternity services with the unique needs of migrant and refugee populations to ensure equitable, high-quality care on a global scale.

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Maternity Care for Migrant and Refugee Women publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in maternity care for migrant and refugee women across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Migrant woman: A woman who has moved across international borders, irrespective of legal status or reason for migration.

Refugee: An individual who has fled their country owing to persecution, conflict or violence and has been granted protected status.

Asylum seeker: A person seeking international protection whose claim for refugee status has not yet been determined.

Continuity of care: The provision of seamless, coordinated health services by a consistent team or care provider throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.

Cultural competence: The ability of healthcare providers and systems to deliver services that meet the linguistic, cultural and social needs of diverse patients.

Severe maternal morbidity: Life-threatening conditions or significant complications during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period that require intensive medical intervention.

References

1. Association between migration and severe maternal outcomes in high-income countries: Systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Medicine (2023).
2. Improving the maternity experience for Black, African, Caribbean and mixed-Black families in an integrated care system: a multigroup community and interprofessional co-production prioritisation exercise using nominal group technique. BMJ Quality & Safety (2024).
3. Perinatal health outcomes and care among asylum seekers and refugees: a systematic review of systematic reviews. BMC Medicine (2018).