Cultural competence and experiences of maternity health care providers on care for migrant women: A qualitative meta-synthesis

Background The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 aim to reduce health care inequity and maternal and infant mortality rates amongst marginalized populations. To provide adequate and culturally relevant maternity care for minority ethnic groups, it is imperative to examine health care providers' views on care for migrant women. We reviewed published accounts of views and experiences of maternity health care providers providing maternity care for migrant women as a way of exploring their cultural competency. Method A qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted. Systematic searches were conducted in five electronic databases from inception dates through February 2021. Qualitative data were analyzed using a framework thematic analysis based on Campinha-Bacote's five-component cultural competency model. Findings Eleven studies were included. Findings were presented according to Campinha-Bacote's model: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge (personal responsibility, familial role and cultural influence, the influence of social and system factors, conflicting maternity care expectations), cultural encounter (language and communication), and cultural desire (establishing trust and going the extra mile, resources to boost culturally competent care). Discussion Our findings can inform the design of high-quality behavioral change, health care management, sociological, and other relevant studies, along with reviews of what matters to service users about cultural responsiveness. Our data also suggest that health system constraints can exacerbate the lack of cultural competency. Improving the quality of care for migrant communities will necessitate a joint effort between health care organizations, health care providers, policymakers, and researchers in developing and implementing more culturally relevant maternity care policies and management interventions.