Midwives’ perceived barriers in communicating about depression with ethnic minority clients

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the most influential barriers midwives perceive in communicating about depression-related symptoms with ethnic minority clients.MethodsIn-depth interviews were held with midwives (N = 8) and Moroccan-Dutch women (N = 6) suffering from perinatal depression to identify the most salient communication barriers. Subsequently, an online survey among midwives (N = 60) assessing their perceived barriers and the occurrence of these barriers in practice was administered. Composite scores using the QUOTE methodology were calculated to determine influential barriers.ResultsThree types of barriers emerged from the interviews. Educational-related barriers, client-related barriers and midwife-related barriers. Results of the survey showed that the most influential barriers were educational-related barriers (e.g. lack of culturally sensitive depression screening instruments) and client-related barriers (e.g. cultural taboo about talking about depression).ConclusionCulturally sensitive screening instruments for depression and patient education materials should be developed to mitigate the educational-related barriers to communicating about depression. Patient education materials should also target the clients’ social environment (e.g. husbands) to help break the cultural taboo about depression.Practice implicationsBased on this study’s results, communication strategies to empower both midwives and ethnic minority clients with depression can be developed in a collaborative approach.