Culturally Sensitive Prenatal Care for Southeast Asians

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of the Southeast Asian Health Project in terms of client satisfaction with the prenatal care and other services. To obtain additional data about Southeast Asian women's health practices regarding childbearing. DESIGN: Survey through questionnaires administered as interviews. SETTING: In clients' homes or via telephone. PARTICIPANTS: 119 women from SEAHP's case files of recently delivered clients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Interviews were conducted by four community workers fluent in Cambodian or Lao. The majority of women were satisfied with SEAHP, particularly the interpretation and education in native languages. Women were also satisfied with SEAHP, encouraging others to seek care. CONCLUSIONS: SEAHP appears to meet prenatal care needs of Southeast Asian women in Long Beach, California. More objective outcome data await analyses, but the program's approach may ensure access to and use of health services.