Abstract
Background: Over 50% of the estimated 90 million international migrants in Europe are women, many of whom are of childbearing age (Fair et al., 2020). Poorer pregnancy and birth outcomes are common among ethnic minority women (Soltani et al., 2020). In Finland Sub-Saharan African women (SSAW) are more likely to undergo caesarean section than Finnish women (Bastola et al., 2020).
Social support which is both informational (providing information for problem-solving) and emotional (offering care and/or trust) is key social determinant of health. It can be acquired through informal networks such as friends, family, and ethnic communities or through formal networks including healthcare and social work professionals (Balaam et al., 2013). Social support systems are important for fostering a sense of belongingness and control over one’s life challenges such as those experienced during childbirth. Although beneficial, migrant mothers experience lack of social support networks in their destination countries due to separation from extended family members (Gilmartin and Migge, 2016; Sami et al., 2019).
Aim: To explore SSAW experience of social support during pregnancy and after caesarean section in Finland.
Method:12 SSAW, aged 22-40 were interviewed in-depth online between 2021 and 2022. Recruitment was through snowball and purposive sampling. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Ethical approval was granted by Novia University of Applied Sciences.
Results: Overarching themes included social network, cultural differences, language barrier and intercultural relationship. The lack of social networks was a dominant theme in interviewees' childbirth experiences in Finland. Participants reported mixed levels of support; some lacked social networks, while others saw their partners take on roles different from traditional male roles in their cultures. Participants in intercultural relationships found their spouses less supportive due to work demands. Motherhood classes on breastfeeding, birth preparation, and caesarean sections are conducted in Finnish or Swedish.
Recommendation: Motherhood classes should be offered in languages understandable to SSAW and other ethnic minority women. Municipalities should tailor support services to meet SSAW's unique needs, including breastfeeding support, childcare support, cultural doulas, and social networking schemes.
Notes
References:
1. Balaam, M.-C. et al. (2013) ‘A qualitative review of migrant women’s perceptions of their needs and experiences related to pregnancy and childbirth’, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(9), pp. 1919–1930. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12139.
2. Bastola, K. et al. (2020) ‘Differences in caesarean delivery and neonatal outcomes among women of migrant origin in Finland: A population-based study’, Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 34(1), pp. 12–20. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.12611.
3. Fair, F. et al. (2020) ‘Migrant women’s experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and maternity care in European countries: A systematic review’, PLOS ONE, 15(2), pp. e0228378-. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228378.
4. Gilmartin, M. and Migge, B. (2016) ‘Migrant mothers and the geographies of belonging’, Gender, Place & Culture, 23(2), pp. 147–161. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2014.991700.
5. Sami, J. et al. (2019) ‘Giving birth in Switzerland: a qualitative study exploring migrant women’s experiences during pregnancy and childbirth in Geneva and Zurich using focus groups’, Reproductive Health, 16(1), p. 112. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-019-0771-0.
6. Soltani, H. et al. (2020) ‘Improving pregnancy and birth experiences of migrant mothers: A report from ORAMMA and continued local impact’, European Journal of Midwifery, 4(47).
Sigma Membership
Phi Mu
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Politics and Advocacy, Childbirth, Sub-Saharan Africans, Social Support, Finland
Recommended Citation
Kwegyir-Afful, Emma and Wikberg, Anita, "Sub-Saharan African Women’s Experiences of Social Support During Childbirth in Finland" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 280.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/280
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-21
Sub-Saharan African Women’s Experiences of Social Support During Childbirth in Finland
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Over 50% of the estimated 90 million international migrants in Europe are women, many of whom are of childbearing age (Fair et al., 2020). Poorer pregnancy and birth outcomes are common among ethnic minority women (Soltani et al., 2020). In Finland Sub-Saharan African women (SSAW) are more likely to undergo caesarean section than Finnish women (Bastola et al., 2020).
Social support which is both informational (providing information for problem-solving) and emotional (offering care and/or trust) is key social determinant of health. It can be acquired through informal networks such as friends, family, and ethnic communities or through formal networks including healthcare and social work professionals (Balaam et al., 2013). Social support systems are important for fostering a sense of belongingness and control over one’s life challenges such as those experienced during childbirth. Although beneficial, migrant mothers experience lack of social support networks in their destination countries due to separation from extended family members (Gilmartin and Migge, 2016; Sami et al., 2019).
Aim: To explore SSAW experience of social support during pregnancy and after caesarean section in Finland.
Method:12 SSAW, aged 22-40 were interviewed in-depth online between 2021 and 2022. Recruitment was through snowball and purposive sampling. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Ethical approval was granted by Novia University of Applied Sciences.
Results: Overarching themes included social network, cultural differences, language barrier and intercultural relationship. The lack of social networks was a dominant theme in interviewees' childbirth experiences in Finland. Participants reported mixed levels of support; some lacked social networks, while others saw their partners take on roles different from traditional male roles in their cultures. Participants in intercultural relationships found their spouses less supportive due to work demands. Motherhood classes on breastfeeding, birth preparation, and caesarean sections are conducted in Finnish or Swedish.
Recommendation: Motherhood classes should be offered in languages understandable to SSAW and other ethnic minority women. Municipalities should tailor support services to meet SSAW's unique needs, including breastfeeding support, childcare support, cultural doulas, and social networking schemes.
Description
50% of migrants are women, many of childbearing age facing poorer birth outcomes. In Finland Sub-Saharan African women (SSAW) are likely to undergo caesarean sections than Finnish women. Social support during childbirth is crucial but often lacking for migrant mothers. We explored SSAW experiences in Finland, focusing on social networks, cultural differences, and language barriers. Recommendations include offering motherhood classes in accessible languages and tailoring services to SSAW's needs.