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. 2019 Mar;21(3):249-262.
doi: 10.1080/13691058.2018.1464208. Epub 2018 May 15.

Pregnancy experiences of women in rural Romania: understanding ethnic and socioeconomic disparities

Katherine LeMasters  1   2 , Anne Baber Wallis  3 , Razvan Chereches  2 , Margaret Gichane  4 , Ciprian Tehei  5 , Andreea Varga  2 , Katherine Tumlinson  1   6
Affiliations

Pregnancy experiences of women in rural Romania: understanding ethnic and socioeconomic disparities

Katherine LeMasters et al. Cult Health Sex. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Women in rural Romania face significant health disadvantages. This qualitative pilot study describes the structural disadvantage experienced during pregnancy by women in rural Romania, focusing on the lived experiences of Roma women. We explore how women in rural communities experience pregnancy, their interactions with the healthcare system, and the role that ethnic and social factors play in pregnancy and childbearing. We conducted 42 semi-structured interviews with health and other professionals, seven narrative interviews with Roma and non-Roma women and a focus group with Roma women. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. We identified intersectional factors associated with women's pregnancy experiences: women perceiving pregnancy as both unplanned and wanted, joyful, and normal; women's and professionals' differing prenatal care perceptions; transport and cost related barriers to care; socioeconomic and ethnic discrimination; and facilitators to care such as social support, having a health mediator and having a doctor. Talking directly with professionals and Roma and non-Roma women helped us understand these many factors, how they are interconnected, and how we can work towards improving the pregnancy experiences of Roma women in rural Romania.

Keywords: Roma; Romania; community health; discrimination; pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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