Conversations about stillbirth prevention during pregnancy care from the perspectives of recent parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, health professionals, and interpreters: A qualitative study

Laura J. Biggs; Jane Yelland; Clemence Due; Elisha Riggs; Anna Ziersch; Erin Green; Shadow Toke; Shogoufa Hydari; Ta Mwe Paw Noe; Josephine Sheriff; Maryaan Essa; May Alqas Alias; Ashay Baguet; Sana Zia; Josef Szwarc; Joanne M. Said; Philippa Middleton; Stephanie J. Brown

doi:10.1177/17455057251365726

Conversations about stillbirth prevention during pregnancy care from the perspectives of recent parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, health professionals, and interpreters: A qualitative study

Laura J. Biggs, Jane Yelland, Clemence Due, Elisha Riggs, Anna Ziersch, Erin Green, Shadow Toke, Shogoufa Hydari, Ta Mwe Paw Noe, Josephine Sheriff, Maryaan Essa, May Alqas Alias, Ashay Baguet, Sana Zia, Josef Szwarc, Joanne M. Said, Philippa Middleton, Stephanie J. Brown

College of Medicine and Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Socio-economic disparities in stillbirth persist in Australia and other high-income countries. Despite increased attention to disparities in perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth, very little is known about the way conversations about stillbirth prevention are occurring within pregnancy care.

Objectives: Understand how conversations about stillbirth prevention are experienced by parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, interpreters, and healthcare professionals within public maternity services in Victoria and South Australia.

Design: An interpretive qualitative design was used.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 62 participants: 47 parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, six midwives, five medical doctors, and four interpreters. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Analysis produced three themes: (1) searching for the right balance, reflecting health professionals’ hesitation to provide direct information if it might promote unnecessary distress or fear, or result in parents’ feeling coerced into medical intervention; (2) patterns and consequences of culturally unsafe care, situating conversations about stillbirth prevention within complex interpersonal and systemic contexts; and (3) safety within relationships built with time, illustrating time and trusting relationships as integral to culturally safe care. Health professionals’ hesitation to discuss stillbirth prevention directly with families restricts access to important health information for a population already facing numerous, longstanding barriers to high-quality maternity care. Distrust between parents, health professionals, and interpreters, fuelled by fragmented and time-poor maternity service design and delivery, can undermine the possibility of culturally safe conversations about stillbirth prevention.

Conclusion: Investment to make culturally safe pregnancy care possible for women and families of refugee and migrant backgrounds is integral to reducing preventable stillbirths.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Number of pages	12
Journal	Women's Health
Volume	21
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057251365726
Publication status	Published - 29 Aug 2025

Keywords

cultural safety
health equity
interpreters
qualitative research
refugee and migrant health
stillbirth

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1177/17455057251365726Licence: CC BY-NC

Final published versionFinal published version, 1.21 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

Biggs, L. J., Yelland, J., Due, C., Riggs, E., Ziersch, A., Green, E., Toke, S., Hydari, S., Noe, T. M. P., Sheriff, J., Essa, M., Alias, M. A., Baguet, A., Zia, S., Szwarc, J., Said, J. M., Middleton, P., & Brown, S. J. (2025). Conversations about stillbirth prevention during pregnancy care from the perspectives of recent parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, health professionals, and interpreters: A qualitative study. Women's Health, 21, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057251365726

@article{6aa7f99a7e12441eb3509bb5b1942d54,

title = "Conversations about stillbirth prevention during pregnancy care from the perspectives of recent parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, health professionals, and interpreters: A qualitative study",

abstract = "Background: Socio-economic disparities in stillbirth persist in Australia and other high-income countries. Despite increased attention to disparities in perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth, very little is known about the way conversations about stillbirth prevention are occurring within pregnancy care. Objectives: Understand how conversations about stillbirth prevention are experienced by parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, interpreters, and healthcare professionals within public maternity services in Victoria and South Australia. Design: An interpretive qualitative design was used. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 62 participants: 47 parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, six midwives, five medical doctors, and four interpreters. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Analysis produced three themes: (1) searching for the right balance, reflecting health professionals{\textquoteright} hesitation to provide direct information if it might promote unnecessary distress or fear, or result in parents{\textquoteright} feeling coerced into medical intervention; (2) patterns and consequences of culturally unsafe care, situating conversations about stillbirth prevention within complex interpersonal and systemic contexts; and (3) safety within relationships built with time, illustrating time and trusting relationships as integral to culturally safe care. Health professionals{\textquoteright} hesitation to discuss stillbirth prevention directly with families restricts access to important health information for a population already facing numerous, longstanding barriers to high-quality maternity care. Distrust between parents, health professionals, and interpreters, fuelled by fragmented and time-poor maternity service design and delivery, can undermine the possibility of culturally safe conversations about stillbirth prevention. Conclusion: Investment to make culturally safe pregnancy care possible for women and families of refugee and migrant backgrounds is integral to reducing preventable stillbirths.",

keywords = "cultural safety, health equity, interpreters, qualitative research, refugee and migrant health, stillbirth",

author = "Biggs, {Laura J.} and Jane Yelland and Clemence Due and Elisha Riggs and Anna Ziersch and Erin Green and Shadow Toke and Shogoufa Hydari and Noe, {Ta Mwe Paw} and Josephine Sheriff and Maryaan Essa and Alias, {May Alqas} and Ashay Baguet and Sana Zia and Josef Szwarc and Said, {Joanne M.} and Philippa Middleton and Brown, {Stephanie J.}",

year = "2025",

month = aug,

day = "29",

doi = "10.1177/17455057251365726",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

pages = "1--12",

journal = "Women's Health",

issn = "1745-5057",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

}

Biggs, LJ, Yelland, J, Due, C, Riggs, E, Ziersch, A, Green, E, Toke, S, Hydari, S, Noe, TMP, Sheriff, J, Essa, M, Alias, MA, Baguet, A, Zia, S, Szwarc, J, Said, JM, Middleton, P & Brown, SJ 2025, 'Conversations about stillbirth prevention during pregnancy care from the perspectives of recent parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, health professionals, and interpreters: A qualitative study', Women's Health, vol. 21, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057251365726

Conversations about stillbirth prevention during pregnancy care from the perspectives of recent parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, health professionals, and interpreters: A qualitative study. / Biggs, Laura J.; Yelland, Jane; Due, Clemence et al.
In: Women's Health, Vol. 21, 29.08.2025, p. 1-12.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Conversations about stillbirth prevention during pregnancy care from the perspectives of recent parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, health professionals, and interpreters

T2 - A qualitative study

AU - Biggs, Laura J.

AU - Yelland, Jane

AU - Due, Clemence

AU - Riggs, Elisha

AU - Ziersch, Anna

AU - Green, Erin

AU - Toke, Shadow

AU - Hydari, Shogoufa

AU - Noe, Ta Mwe Paw

AU - Sheriff, Josephine

AU - Essa, Maryaan

AU - Alias, May Alqas

AU - Baguet, Ashay

AU - Zia, Sana

AU - Szwarc, Josef

AU - Said, Joanne M.

AU - Middleton, Philippa

AU - Brown, Stephanie J.

PY - 2025/8/29

Y1 - 2025/8/29

N2 - Background: Socio-economic disparities in stillbirth persist in Australia and other high-income countries. Despite increased attention to disparities in perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth, very little is known about the way conversations about stillbirth prevention are occurring within pregnancy care. Objectives: Understand how conversations about stillbirth prevention are experienced by parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, interpreters, and healthcare professionals within public maternity services in Victoria and South Australia. Design: An interpretive qualitative design was used. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 62 participants: 47 parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, six midwives, five medical doctors, and four interpreters. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Analysis produced three themes: (1) searching for the right balance, reflecting health professionals’ hesitation to provide direct information if it might promote unnecessary distress or fear, or result in parents’ feeling coerced into medical intervention; (2) patterns and consequences of culturally unsafe care, situating conversations about stillbirth prevention within complex interpersonal and systemic contexts; and (3) safety within relationships built with time, illustrating time and trusting relationships as integral to culturally safe care. Health professionals’ hesitation to discuss stillbirth prevention directly with families restricts access to important health information for a population already facing numerous, longstanding barriers to high-quality maternity care. Distrust between parents, health professionals, and interpreters, fuelled by fragmented and time-poor maternity service design and delivery, can undermine the possibility of culturally safe conversations about stillbirth prevention. Conclusion: Investment to make culturally safe pregnancy care possible for women and families of refugee and migrant backgrounds is integral to reducing preventable stillbirths.

AB - Background: Socio-economic disparities in stillbirth persist in Australia and other high-income countries. Despite increased attention to disparities in perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth, very little is known about the way conversations about stillbirth prevention are occurring within pregnancy care. Objectives: Understand how conversations about stillbirth prevention are experienced by parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, interpreters, and healthcare professionals within public maternity services in Victoria and South Australia. Design: An interpretive qualitative design was used. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 62 participants: 47 parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, six midwives, five medical doctors, and four interpreters. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Analysis produced three themes: (1) searching for the right balance, reflecting health professionals’ hesitation to provide direct information if it might promote unnecessary distress or fear, or result in parents’ feeling coerced into medical intervention; (2) patterns and consequences of culturally unsafe care, situating conversations about stillbirth prevention within complex interpersonal and systemic contexts; and (3) safety within relationships built with time, illustrating time and trusting relationships as integral to culturally safe care. Health professionals’ hesitation to discuss stillbirth prevention directly with families restricts access to important health information for a population already facing numerous, longstanding barriers to high-quality maternity care. Distrust between parents, health professionals, and interpreters, fuelled by fragmented and time-poor maternity service design and delivery, can undermine the possibility of culturally safe conversations about stillbirth prevention. Conclusion: Investment to make culturally safe pregnancy care possible for women and families of refugee and migrant backgrounds is integral to reducing preventable stillbirths.

KW - cultural safety

KW - health equity

KW - interpreters

KW - qualitative research

KW - refugee and migrant health

KW - stillbirth

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105014767791&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/17455057251365726

DO - 10.1177/17455057251365726

M3 - Article

C2 - 40878934

AN - SCOPUS:105014767791

SN - 1745-5057

VL - 21

SP - 1

EP - 12

JO - Women's Health

JF - Women's Health

ER -

Conversations about stillbirth prevention during pregnancy care from the perspectives of recent parents of refugee and migrant backgrounds, health professionals, and interpreters: A qualitative study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this