The voices and concerns about prenatal testing of Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese women in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
to examine how Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese women experience prenatal testing and to examine their knowledge and communication with health-care providers.


METHODS
Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Victoria, Australia.


METHODS
an ethnographic study of childbearing and childrearing among women born in South-east Asia and now living in Melbourne, Australia reporting in-depth interviews with 67 women who had given birth in Australia.


RESULTS
nearly all the women had prenatal testing as advised by their doctors and their main concerns were about their unborn baby and the need to follow doctors' advice. The women felt 'indifferent' towards prenatal testing, perceiving it as a normal part of antenatal care in Australia. Despite agreeing to undertake prenatal testing, the women did not have adequate understanding of the tests. This may be due to lack of information per se or inadequate communication between health providers and women.


CONCLUSIONS
inevitably, the onus rests with the health-care provider to ensure that all options available to women are understood, so that women can make a positive and informed choice regardless of their social or cultural background. This will lead to women's increased satisfaction with care during pregnancy.
Liamputtong
Pranee
P
School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia. pranee@latrobe.edu.au
Watson
Lyndsey
L
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002160:Cambodia / Q000208:ethnology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos / Q000208:ethnology; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000523:psychology; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology